FIGHT FOR YOUR PET'S RIGHTS DID YOU KNOW that you can choose to take your child to a Homeopath, Chiropractor or Doctor of Chinese Medicine without a referral from a Doctor, but you need a referral from a Veterinarian to make the same choice for your pets And many Veterinarians will not refer pets to Alternative Health Care Practitioners, effectively limiting your access to these important modalities. DID YOU KNOW that if you want your pet to see a Homeopath or other Alternative Health Care Practitioner, you must pay for a Veterinarian to supervise the visit This added cost makes access to qualified alternative health care impossible for most pet owners. DID YOU KNOW that Veterinarians need only minimal training in Homeopathy, Chiropractics and Acupuncture (often only a few weekends long) to be "qualified" to practice these modalities on your pet Before these modalities can be practiced on you or your children, years of training are required -- Don't your pets deserve to be treated by someone with the same level of expertise DID YOU KNOW that the B.C. Government is contemplating changes to the B.C. Veterinarian's Act that may further limit or even eliminate your freedom and right to make choices regarding your pet's health care YOU HAVE THE POWER TO STOP THIS FROM HAPPENING The Government of British Columbia has requested advice from the public (by December 2, 2009) regarding proposed changes to the B.C. Veterinarians Act which is currently under review. The Ministry is recommending many changes to the current legislation, including changes with respect to the role and duties of the BCVMA, the structure of the BCVMA... including the concept of moving from an association to a college, and bylaw and regulation-making powers. However, they have not provided to the public any details of these proposed vague changes, other than to say that they are similar in principle to legislation for self-governing professions and other jurisdictions, including Ontario's Veterinary Act. Ontario's Veterinary Act significantly limits the public's access to alternative medical care for animals and the right to make informed choices for animal care. There is a concern that the B.C. Ministry is attempting to do the same under the guise of protecting the public interest. The public has a right to know the details of the changes being proposed and how those changes will affect their ability to access alternative medical care for their animals from qualified practitioners of their choosing. Furthermore, there is significant concern that the changes being contemplated would provide the BCVMA with greater power to regulate itself. In recent years, the BCVMA has been involved in legal proceedings that have not served the public or their animals. The BCVMA has not acted in a manner that has instilled confidence in the public, and accordingly should not be given the power to change bylaws and regulations, or govern itself unchecked by the public it is supposed to be protecting. For further information: www.agf.gov.bc.ca/clad/strategic_land/strategic_land/VetAct/Veterinarians_Act_Consultation.html Or you can contact the Strategic Policy and Legislation Branch of the Ministry of Agriculture and Lands at P.O. Box 9303, Stn Provincial Government, Victoria, BC, V8W 9N1, or by FAX # 250-387-2410 PETITION We, the public, demand the right and the freedom to choose the health care we believe is appropriate for our pets. We strongly disagree with any changes being proposed to the B.C. Veterinarians Act that would in any way limit or eliminate our access to alternative medical care for our animals, including our ability, right and freedom to choose to access alternative medical care for our animals from qualified practitioners who are not members of the BCVMA. Furthermore, past actions of the BCVMA suggest that they are motivated to limit the rights of the public and the animals they claim to be protecting, and we do not support any changes being proposed to the B.C. Veterinarians Act that would give the BCVMA the power to change bylaws and regulations that would affect the public without having to answer to the public. Finally, we strongly disagree with any changes to the current legislation that would give the BCVMA the power to govern itself unchecked by the public.