Reports from yesterdays (October 30) meeting of the Alabama State Board of Veterinary Medical Examiners reveal that former employees of the Alabama Spay/Neuter Clinic in Irondale were subpoenaed to appear before the board and provide testimony in the boards ongoing smear campaign/witch hunt/fishing expedition aimed at closing or severely restricting the operations of Alabamas non-profit spay/neuter clinics. Meanwhile, the ASBVME continues to fail to investigate apparent violations of the Veterinary Practice Acts prohibition against the employment of veterinarians by non-veterinarians committed by ASBVME-licensed veterinarians in Alabama who are employed by the corporate-owned Banfield Pet Hospitals throughout Alabama. Banfield Pet Hospitals became a subsidiary of Mars Incorporated in September 2007 and has enjoyed a cozy relationship with Alabamas schools of veterinary medicine, especially Tuskegee Universitys School of Veterinary Medicine, where representatives from Banfield have been allowed on campus to present information regarding students prospective career opportunities with Banfield. Tuskegees School of Veterinary Medicine has also been the recipient of past donations from Banfield, including a $55,000 donation in 2010 of radiography equipment. banfield/about-us/news-room/news-archives/banfield,-the-pet-hospital-makes-donation-to-tuske Banfield Pet Hospitals currently has ten locations in Alabama where ASBVME-licensed veterinarians are employed and practice veterinary medicine. The veterinarians who provide services at Alabamas four low-cost, limited-services, non-profit spay/neuter clinics do so, not as employees, but as independent contractors. The Veterinary Practice Act contains no prohibitions against veterinarians providing veterinary services as independent contractors. In fact, according to the terms of his personal services contract with the Limestone County Commission, ASBVME President Dr. Robert Pitman currently provides veterinary services to Limestone County, not as an employee, but as an independent contractor.
Posted on: Thu, 31 Oct 2013 16:35:03 +0000
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