key organizations who influence animal legislation and veterinarian behavior

• The State Veterinarian / B.A.H.
The State Veterinarian heads up the Minnesota Board of Animal Health (B.A.H.), and works closely with other State Departments.

Dr. William L. Hartmann, Executive Director and State Veterinarian
State of Minnesota
Board of Animal Health
625 Robert Street, North
St. Paul, MN 55155
651-201-6826 (Office) Ext. 27
651-296-7417 (Fax)
E-Mail: bill.hartmann@bah.state.mn.us
Web site: www.bah.state.mn.us

• Minnesota Board of Veterinary Medicine
The Minnesota Board of Veterinary Medicine is the licensing agency for veterinarians in the state of Minnesota. The members of the Board are appointed by the Governor.

Per the MBVM website: “The mission of the Board is to promote, preserve, and protect the health, safety and welfare of the public and animals through the effective control and regulation of the practice of veterinary medicine.”

If you are concerned about a veterinarian and wish to file a complaint, you can find a description of the complaint process and forms at:
http://www.vetmed.state.mn.us/beta/Default.aspx?tabid=802

Minnesota Board of Veterinary Medicine
2829 University Ave. SE, Suite 540
Minneapolis, MN  55414
651-201-2844 (Office)   
651-201-2842 (Fax)
http://www.vetmed.state.mn.us/ (Website)

• Minnesota Veterinarian Medical Association (MVMA)
Founded in 1897, the mission of the MVMA is “to advance and support the community of Minnesota veterinary professionals through excellence in leadership, education, and innovation, in fulfilling our responsibility for the health and welfare of animals and humans.” (Reprinted from the MVMA website.)

The Association has a variety of committees, including a Government Affairs committee and a Grievance and Ethics Committee. The MVMA lobbies legislators and State and local agencies to shape public policy. The MVMA may offer an opinion about legislation but, as with all associations, it does not necessarily speak for all of its members.

The Board of Directors and staff with contact information are listed on their website.

Minnesota Veterinary Medical Association
101 Bridgepoint Way, Suite 100
South St. Paul, MN 55075
651.645.7533 (Phone)
651.645.7539 (Fax)
www.mvma.org/ (Website)

• American Veterinarian Medical Association (AVMA)
Established in 1863, the objective of the AVMA is to “advance the science and art of veterinary medicine, including its relationship to public health, biological science, and agriculture. … The AVMA is designated by the U.S. Department of Education as the accrediting body for the 28 schools of veterinary medicine in the United States. … Structured to work for its members, the AVMA acts as a collective voice for its membership and for the profession.” (Reprinted from the AVMA website.)

The AVMA and the MVMA do not always share the same opinions. In 2005, the American Veterinary Medical Association recognized the problem of commercial breeders and supported the Pet Animal Welfare Statute (PAWS), which was introduced at the federal level and was an attempt to amend the Animal Welfare Act to regulate puppy mills.

Per the AVMA Journals, JAVMA News, December 2005:
“AVMA President Henry E. Childers told the subcommittee that the PAWS amendment would authorize the USDA to mandate health plans for animals from high-volume breeders and importers who currently "escape" regulation.

"The high-volume breeders and importers that this statute will affect have profit as their only goal," Dr. Childers said. "Neither morals nor ethics guide the misery they breed. ... They have been exempt from the law. (The AVMA) believes this must be corrected. Congress has the power to do that."

AVMA Journals: Legislation would regulate puppy mills
http://www.avma.org/onlnews/javma/dec05/051215a.asp

American Veterinarian Medical Association
Headquarters:
1931 North Meacham Road, Suite 100
Schaumburg, IL 60173-4360
847.925.8070  (Home)
847.925.1329 (Fax)
avmainfo@avma.org (Email)
www.avma.org (website)

• CENSHARE
Per the CENSHARE website: “We are a diverse group of people from the University of Minnesota and surrounding community dedicated to studying and improving human-animal relationships and environments. Our mission and vision includes education, research, and service.”

CENSHARE
University of Minnesota
717 Delaware St SE, Rm 130
Minneapolis, MN 55455-2040
612-626-1975 (phone)
612-624-3370 (Fax)
censhare@umn.edu (Email)
http://www.censhare.umn.edu/

• Society & Animals Forum
(formerly Psychologists for the Ethical Treatment of Animals)
The Society & Animals Forum, Inc. “produces educational programs and materials on the relationship between human and non-human animals. The objective of Society & Animals Forum is to reduce violence against human and non-human animals.” (Reprinted from website.)

Society and Animals Forum
P.O. Box 1297
Washington Grove, MD 20880-1297
301-963-4751 (Phone/Fax)
kshapiro@societyandanimalsforum.org (email)
www.psyeta.org/sa (website)

• The Association of Veterinarians for Animal Rights
The Association of Veterinarians for Animal Rights (AVAR) is “committed to balancing the needs of nonhuman animals with those of human animals. … AVAR operates under the premise that all nonhuman animals have value and interests independent of the values and interests of other animals, including humans. As physicians protect the interests and needs of their patients, so should veterinarians.” (Reprinted from website.)

Association of Veterinarians for Animal Rights
PO Box 208
Davis, CA 95617-0208
1-530-759-8106 (Phone)
1-530-759-8116 (Fax)
info@avar.org  (Email)
www.avar.org  (Website)