Alabama State Veterinary Board Tries to Muzzle Spay Neuter Clinic

Euthanasia of healthy dogs, cats, puppies and kittens is a national tragedy. Although approximately 4 million homeless pets are still euthanized each year, we’ve made huge strides since the '80s when over 20 million were killed. How? Through targeted spaying and neutering programs.

Yet the Alabama State Board of Veterinary Medical Examiners is actively going after low-cost spay/neuter clinics in an effort to shut them down. Why? Cash, lira, and dollars. Many private vets charge and arm and a leg to sterilize dogs and cats, a service which these clinics offer in a more accessible, affordable way.

The Alabama Spay/Neuter Clinic received a certified letter, dated June 7, from Tammy Wallace, executive director of the Alabama State Board of Veterinary Medical Examiners, alleging that the clinic is in violation of the Alabama Code that defines veterinary practice, and therefore must cease operations.

According to the Alabama Spay/Neuter Clinic and their attorney, they believe they are operating within the law, which says a veterinary practice must be owned by a licensed veterinarian. Dr. William Weber owns the practice. He employs and pays the veterinarians. The Clinic only owns the equipment and hires the support staff.

This is the same set-up that numerous spay/neuter clinics operate on throughout the U.S. — including the stellar Humane Alliance in North Carolina, home of the National Spay/Neuter Response team.

Some states have enacted laws stating any animal adopted from a shelter or rescue must be spayed or neutered prior to adoption. Others, like New Hampshire, have a targeted Pet Population Control Fund to help low income owners get their animals sterilized. The program works so well that now many New Hampshire non-profit shelters are importing homeless dogs and puppies from other states in an effort to help stop the killing there.

The Alabama Spay/Neuter Clinic has performed over 33,000 high quality, low cost surgeries in just three years. These surgeries have saved not only lives but tax dollars, reducing the number of puppies and kittens that are turned into animal control to be destroyed.

At the SNIP Summit, organized by the Humane Alliance, Dr. Brenda Griffin of the University of Florida Veterinary School astutely noted that if euthanasia were a disease killing 4 million dogs and cats, the entire veterinary community would mobilize to fight it. Tragically, that’s not the case — the issue rarely makes it on the radar of many veterinary researchers, and now the Alabama Veterinary Medical Board is making it harder to save lives.

Maybe the Alabama Veterinary Medical Board doesn’t realize that the veterinary oath was changed to state that veterinarians are to use their scientific knowledge and skills for the benefit of society through the protection of animal health and welfare, the prevention and relief of animal suffering. Maybe it’s time for them to rethink their profession and for the Governor to appoint a new Veterinary Medical Board that will focus on improving the welfare of animals in their state instead of going after programs trying to reduce euthanasia.

Please sign the Alabama Spay/Neuter Clinic's petition to send a message to the Governor and the Veterinary Medical Board.

Photo Credit: Aleksandra Gajdeczka