Illinois Alliance for Animal Owners Rights

SB3712 and HB5377 are moving through the IL Legislature, being approved by both houses.
IAAOR now SUPPORTS both bills as exemptions 8 and 15 were returned to their original state in both bills and exemption 8.5 concerning trainers has been struck as requested by the IAAOR in both bills.

Lobbying expenses have been heavy.
Donations or memberships are needed to pay off this debt.
Please consider acting now! You may join or donate online.

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Illinois Bills HB5377 and SB3712 to Make Sweeping Changes to Current Exemptions In the Veterinary Medicine Practice Act

These bills, HB5377 and its companion bill, SB3712, upgrading the 2004 Illinois Veterinary Medicine Act changes the wording of existing exemptions.

The IAAOR is OPPOSED to the language changes to exemptions #8 and #15.

Over the years, the veterinary profession in Illinois has tried to form a complete monopoly of its industry, keeping anyone who is not a licensed DVM from providing non-medical services for animals.

In 2004 The Illinois Alliance for Animal Owners Rights, Inc. (IAAOR) was instrumental in the passage of Exemptions 8 and 15 to the 2004 IL Veterinary Medical Act.

We currently understand these bills to be taking away the animal owner's rights to freely choose health care options for their animals.

The IAAOR is most concerned about the changes to exemption 8. The written disclosure statements have been removed affecting your right as an animal owner to consumer choice options. The intent is one must obtain a veterinary referral before scheduling a massage, acupressure, animal communication, herbal, homeopathic, essential oils and other alternative therapies for your animal.

Also note exemption 8.5, which was split apart from 8, now written for animal trainers of all types. The Illinois Veterinary Medicine and Surgery Practice Act, in and of itself, is overly broad and all inclusive in its definitions of what constitutes veterinary medicine. It includes all types of complementary, alternative and integrative therapies although most veterinarians have never had this training. For most DVM's this is outside of their scope of practice.

We find this exemption aimed at animal trainers to also be very damaging. Animal trainers, as part of their job, must determine the health and fitness of the animals they are training . They often recognize and treat various conditions that arise in that animal as part of their due care as agent of the owner. To use an example: a horse trainer would apparently be in violation for recognizing and treating a splint without calling the veterinarian first.

The text stricken has a line drawn through it. The text replacing it is underlined.

Click here to read Illinois House bill HB5377

The sponsor of the House bill is Rep. Frank Mautino

Co-Sponsors of HB5377 are
Representative William B. Black
(217) 782-4811
(217) 782-1873 FAX
and Representative David Reis
(217) 782-2087
(217) 557-0530 FAX
Call them NOW!

Click here to read Illinois Senate bill SB3712

Sponsor of the Senate bill is Senator Michael Frerichs

Co-Sponsor: Senator Ira Silverstein

Bill SB3712 has passed the Licensed Activities Committee.

Please contact these Illinois legislators and indicate you are opposed to the language changes in exemptions 8 and 15 from the current practice act. Also please feel free to comment that as an animal owner you oppose the profession of veterinary medicine taking away your responsibility to freely choose health care options for your animals without incurring unnecessary veterinary referrals. This is a consumer choice issue.

We also suggest each practitioner and animal owner elect to JOIN THE IAAOR for $25 per year. The IAAOR does pay annually to have the Illinois bills monitored. We also are currently incurring large lobbying expenses. Donations and memberships to help defray this cost are greatly appreciated.

The IAAOR is continuing to review this proposed legislation to determine what action will be required.

(NOTE: To find your legislators by your ZIP Code, visit the Illinois State Board of Elections Web site.)

Call Your Representative

Please call your Representative to tell him you support HB5377 as the restoration of exemptions 8 and 15 in their original form return your consumer choice options as an animal owner and what this means to you. Ask him to support this bill. Ask for a yes vote.

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