State and local regulation of veterinary medicine

The American Veterinary Medical Association believes that state legislatures and local municipalities should defer to the professional judgment of veterinarians when considering proposals that impact the practice and scope of veterinary medicine including those that restrict or prohibit specific veterinary procedures. State governments, rather than local governments, are the appropriate entities to regulate the practice of veterinary medicine. The AVMA encourages state and local VMAs to work jointly and with the state legislatures and local municipalities when addressing these issues.