AR-News: DVM Newsmagazine: Profession's Mindset Shifts on Welfare

[Pam at AVAR]

FYI ... ARTICLE FROM DVM NEWS MAGAZINE
(see below for info on how to submit Letters to the Editor)

Profession's mindset shifts on welfare

By Jennifer Fiala, Senior Editor, DVM Newsmagazine

A line has been drawn. Veterinarians in favor of increasing welfare 
standards, raising pet worth and dismantling sow gestation stalls hold 
steadfast on one side. Those calling for strict science-based evidence 
before instituting welfare changes remain on the other.

That's how experts tracking trend lines in veterinary medicine view a 
growing divide among DVMs who tend to be closely aligned with animal 
agriculture and those far removed from its economic system. While many food 
animal veterinarians claim they're losing a public relations battle on some 
longstanding production practices, those in small animal medicine cite 
ethical arguments challenging "inhumane" housing and health systems. 
Whether generational issues, gender gaps or societal pressures are to blame 
for the growing dissension, one thing is clear - welfare standards in 
veterinary medicine are at a crossroads, and an increasing number of 
practitioners are joining the debate.

"There's no question, veterinarians are more concerned about animal 
welfare," says Bernard Rollin, Colorado State University's bioethicist and 
professor of philosophy, agriculture and biomedical sciences. "The 
profession's mindset is changing, which probably stems from generational 
and cultural gaps in veterinary medicine. The best examples are the 
controversies with sow stalls and forced molting. It will be interesting to 
see how AVMA deals with that."

Changing course
Debate concerning sow gestation crates and forced molting intensified last 
July, when American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA) delegates 
faced-off as to whether or not the respective farming practices are humane. 
While a resolution opposing forced molting failed, delegates, in an 
impromptu decision, voted to further research whether sow gestation stalls 
are welfare-friendly. The move struck a chord with AVMA members like Dr. 
Thomas Burkgren, who expects the issue might resurface when the delegates 
meet for the association's annual convention in July. At presstime, AVMA 
Executive Board members appointed taskforce members as mandated by the 2003 
proposal. Burkgren, who favors the longstanding, science-based farming 
practices, views the mandated research as a lack of understanding among 
colleagues. Less than 2 percent of Americans derive their income from 
agriculture, he says, and that translates to veterinarians.

"I was surprised when the AVMA delegates chose to ignore science in favor 
of that resolution," says Burkgren, head of the American Association of 
Swine Veterinarians. "As veterinarians supporting agriculture, we're good 
at scientific debate, but the emotional debate is tougher. To our 
detriment, we've discussed science too much and have not framed some major 
ethical questions like what's natural behavior? Are domesticated animals 
different from farm animals? And should we even be using animals as a food 
source?"

Evidence of a shift
While the questions are broad and somewhat lofty, it's evident veterinary 
students are considering them, says Dr. Jim Wilson, an attorney and DVM 
tracking the welfare movement. That's apparent in their reactions to recent 
public efforts to hold veterinarians responsible for reporting suspected 
client violations on animal cruelty laws. At presstime, Oregon became the 
nation's latest state to pass such a statute.

"Probably 80 percent of my students believe veterinarians should be 
required to report animal cruelty, which speaks to animal welfare," says 
Wilson, an adjunct professor at University of Pennsylvania's veterinary 
school. "It's an issue that, as a profession, we've fought against being 
accountable for. These younger veterinarians, they have a remarkably 
different perspective of animal welfare and the law."

Tracking a trend
It's a perspective Dr. Billy Hooper, former head of the Association of 
American Veterinary Medical Colleges (AAVMC), predicated would take hold. 
The trend line, especially regarding companion animals, is observed in the 
public's demand for high-quality veterinary care and success of the 
human-animal bond. That was evident 15 years ago, he says.

"Between the time I entered the profession in 1960 and became executive 
director of AAVMC in 1990, the movement toward increased animal welfare was 
significant," Hooper says. "But in the last 14 years, it's moved even 
faster. Nowadays, it's a very different world for food animal and equine 
practitioners. Welfare is moving with the same society-driving forces as 
companion animals. Certainly, one senses it at every turn."

Student reaction
Dr. Jim Reynolds, a dairy clinician with the Veterinary Teaching and 
Research Center at the University of California, Davis, fosters it in the 
classroom. The food animal professor recently shared with students a report 
from Farm Sanctuary. The activist group mailed surveys to nearly 70,000 
U.S. veterinarians on the AVMA's official position on welfare standards, 
just 1,245 surveys were returned. The results: Those polled reacted 
"objectionably" to AVMA-backed agriculture practices such as using veal 
stalls and gestation crates.

While the student was not peer-reviewed, it certainly incites debate, 
Reynolds says.

"Some of my colleagues view the document's questions as potentially biased 
and leading, and they don't trust Farm Sanctuary's results," Reynolds says. 
"My reaction is that despite coming from an activist group, it's a fair and 
useful survey. Students have responded well to it. It promotes healthy 
discussion, even if there's no way to verify the results."

AVMA has no public reaction to the document, but Dr. Gail Golab, the 
association's assistant director for professional and public affairs, notes 
that the shift to reconsider animal welfare standards does not solely come 
from within the profession.

"There's a public focus, directed toward veterinary medicine," she says. 
"Yes, you see some changes in the veterinary profession because the 
percentage of food animal veterinarians is much smaller than it used to be. 
It reflects how much people are exposed to animal agriculture."

It's also important to emphasize that the profession has always been about 
animal welfare," Golab says. And it's veterinarians who will continue to 
champion animal welfare, Rollin adds.

"I have tremendous faith in the veterinary profession," he says. "The 
future of rational animal welfare is veterinarians. They have one foot in 
each camp."

NOTE:
Letters to the Editor to DVMA Newsmagazine can be mailed to: DVM 
Newsmagazine, 7500 Old Oak Blvd., Cleveland, OH 44130 or emailed to 
mhrehocik at advanstar.com. Letters should not exceed 500 words.



Pam Runquist
Director of Companion Animal Issues
Association of Veterinarians for Animal Rights
PO Box 208
Davis, CA 95617-0208
Tel: (530) 759-8106
pam at avar.org

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