Could our Right to seek Natural Treatment for Pets be Denied?

Written By: Susan Thixton
4-15-2009
Categorized in: Pets

Animal massage therapist Mercedes Clemens is fighting to protect her career. Despite tremendous public interest in alternative therapy for pets, many states have laws that deny pet owners from seeking advice and/or treatment from anyone other than a veterinarian.

The Coalition for Natural Health (CNH) actively supports legislation that protects the rights of natural healers and practitioners of holistic health. CNH also is on the ‘job’ protecting our rights as pet owners to seek natural health alternatives for our pets.

“Pushed by the American Veterinary Medical Association a lobby organization for vets), backed by substantial contributions from drug and feed companies, states are being urged to tighten the laws that govern veterinary medicine. The “definition” and “practice” of veterinary medicine is being expanded way beyond most state’s original intention and beyond what veterinarians are trained to practice.” http://www.naturalhealth.org/animals/animals.asp

One example of an animal natural health practice being stopped by ridiculous legislation is Mercedes Clemens. “Mercedes Clemens is a Maryland entrepreneur with a thriving massage practice in Rockville (MD) that, until recently, offered both human and animal massage. In addition to being a licensed massage therapist for people, Mercedes has more than 30 years of practical experience as a horse owner and rider, has been privately certified in equine massage, and has even taught animal massage to others. Despite these qualifications, the Maryland State Board of Veterinary Medical Examiners teamed up with the Maryland Board of Chiropractic Examiners to threaten Mercedes with criminal sanctions and the loss of her license to massage people unless she stops practicing animal massage and takes down the parts of her website offering the service.” http://www.naturalhealth.org/animals/articles/MDPressRelease.pdf

Although this woman was certified to treat animals with massage therapy, short-sighted individuals are using outdated laws to prevent her to practice on animals. She wasn’t performing surgery on horses, she wasn’t prescribing drugs; she is…was…performing an age old therapy on horses to alleviate pain and promote natural health. Mercedes’ suit fighting outdated Maryland laws is still pending.

Washington Post columnist John Kelly provided an update on Mercedes’ fight, stating a judge dismissed her case “against the veterinary group but allowed it to proceed against the chiropractic board.” http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2008/12/31/AR2008123103065.html?hpid=sec=metro

The Coalition for Natural Health reports that States can easily add a clause that will give consumers and petsumers the right to choose their own care “by simply adding an exclusion to the law that allows written consent from animal owners to have non-veterinary practitioners treating their animals. The industry wants to limit all animal care to only veterinarians and control the use of natural therapies and feed.”

Even more frightening, CNH reports that …“In some states it would even make it illegal for animal owners to seek any form of animal advice or care except from a licensed veterinary for their animals. These laws need to be updated and reflect the consumer’s right to choice.” This could mean that this website and many others, providing information to pet owners about pet food regulations and ingredients, could be at risk unless careful attention is paid to legislation!

Our right to seek natural health advice and treatment for our pets should not be denied. CNH shares that every pet owner should contact State legislature and State Veterinary Boards to let them know you want freedom of choice in animal care. http://www.naturalhealth.org provides state-by-state information.

Please take action before Veterinarian organizations, Big Pet Food, and Big Pharma do. Your right to seek advice and/or treatment of natural health options could be denied.

Wishing you and your pet(s) the best,

Susan Thixton
Truth about Pet Food
Petsumer Report
www.TruthaboutPetFood.com

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Comments (6)

alphadog

Said this on 4-15-2009 At 05:20 pm

I am so sick and tired of governments buying into the BS that the medical establishment feeds them! My question---if I want to take my dog for a massage, how are they really going to stop me? Anyone who was alive in the 60s and 70s knows how to go underground---what are they really going to do about it?

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laurel

Said this on 4-16-2009 At 02:45 am

Ludicrous! my dogs have a tummy ache i give them clay, if it doesn't work , then..I will seek a vet. But not to have the option to seek a viable alternative healer is insane! Doggy and horse chiropractic does wonders. Once again Susan i am posting this elsewhere to gain more cover for it.
in Aus we call fools that make laws like this, A bunch of wa*kers. and no way will we obey!

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Letha

Said this on 4-16-2009 At 12:54 pm

I'm a pet massager and my state passed an amendment to the vet practice law that states that complimentary and alternative therapies are under the scope of practice of the vet. (Alternative vets, likely; regular vet - no way.) I could go underground but it's not the point. I should be able to offer relaxation massage for pet owners as a complimentary service. The owner should have the right to choose - we have the right to choose not to take our kids to the doctor if it's against our religion, so why would vet care be so strictly regulated against such wonderful methods? Also, the law is not meant to keep pet owners from seeking massages; it's meant to prosecute (cease and desist and then suit) the massager who is not a vet. Other states have organizations for pet owner rights. It should be the choice of the pet owner, not the law.

Personally, I've had to adjust how I market my business and have had to take a different approach to pet massage. I can teach it to pet owners, but I can't perform it.

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Sandy

Said this on 4-16-2009 At 04:21 pm

the Gov't is sticking their nose in too much that is good these days and not enough of what is bad going on like protecting our animals from torture, death and puppy mills. I always use chiropractic, massage and accupuncture for my dogs to get them well and keep them well. I am a groomer (41) years and I treat the dogs very special. Also there are too many groomers abusing the dogs they groom. How about putting a stop to that too! If a groomer around here maims or kills a dog while in the grooming shop all the owner gets is 25.00 as it is classified as "only" a dog. Priorities are backwards any more!!

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Angel

Said this on 4-17-2009 At 06:04 am

This is sickening. I for one am a very satisfied pet owner using alternative pet medicine for my cat. I use feline medicine chest trace minerals since he has some sort of deficiency and I can really attest to its effectivity. I spent so much on medication for him an they didn't seem to work. Thank god I live in the philippines where the rules on pet therapy arent that strict. I heard they banned products from pet medicine chest/feline medicine chest there and I feel bad for the owners out there robbed of the chance to try it out because for me, their products are really good and effective.

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Kathleen in CA

Said this on 4-23-2009 At 11:07 am

It's very disturbing that veterinarians are behind this.
I live in a big city, (Sacramento, CA) & finding any type of alternative pet care is like finding a needle in a haystack. Conventional vets are afraid a few massage therapists, herbalists or chiropractors will cut into their profits?...........Or is it that they won't take the time to learn the benefits of alternative care & incorporate those services into their practice? How short-sighted.
This is another "here we go again", knowing the gov't couldn't care less about this issue unless and until some big entity and their lobbyists got involved.
P.S. Just finished 'Kindred Spirits' by Allen M. Schoen, D.V.M., M.S.-who knew apis mellifica could help an animal after a bee sting? Or that nux vomica could help w/vomiting & poisonings? I didn't even know what these things are! We need more of these people to help us help our pets, not less.
Let's overthrow the gov't & start fresh! ;^)

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