Thanks to MVMA member letters, phone calls, e-mails and a major assault by the MVMA lobbyists and staff, the MVMA was able to score a major victory by working out a compromise with key members in the legislature to approve amendment language in the House and Senate Ag bills that would have otherwise given chiropractors direct access to animals without a referral from a veterinarian. Expert testimony by Drs. Pierce Fleming, John Howe, Stan Held, Kate An Hunter, Robert Washabau, Teresa Hershey, and Tom Hagerty was crucial in helping legislators understand the complexity of the issue. The amendment language crafted by veterinarian Senator Steve Dille was presented to chiropractic supporters and after several hours of hammering out the details was eventually accepted by the chiropractic advocacy group.  According to MVMA’s lobbyist, Allyson Hartle, “this was one of the most intense battles of my career at the legislature, it required a full court press to  convince the legislators and chiropractors that the veterinary diagnosis and referral prior to  chiropractic treatment is critically important to the health of the animal and protects human and public health. “

“The relationship between the veterinary and chiropractic professions has been positive over many years and this result reflects what I believe is the understanding and respect that both professions have for one another” according to MVMA Executive Director, Dan Tjornehoj.  I’m hopeful that our organizations will go forward as partners and not as adversaries in promoting the best care for our animal patients without any future showdowns in the legislature.  Tjornehoj went on to applaud the work of Sen. Steve Dille, MVMA lobbyist Dr. Tom Hagerty, Lockridge Grindal Nauen lobbyists Brian McDaniel and Allyson Hartle and their team for their hard work and many hours they put into this effort.