Demand Better Pet Care in Missouri

In Missouri, it is against the rules and regulations for a registered veterinary technician (RVT) to administer your veterinarian prescribed medication and treatments to your pet without direct supervision of a veterinarian.

In 2016, Visiting Pet Nurses went out of business because of these rules and regulations, leaving many pet parents stranded with no qualified help for caring for their pet's medical needs. 

A former client of Visiting Pet Nurses shares her thoughts:

"I sought out VPN because a trusted vet at a specialty hospital recommended VPN to me as supportive care for a well-loved and adored family pup, Cody.  Cody was diagnosed with diabetes eight years ago.  His diabetes requires daily management including the monitoring of blood glucose and administering insulin injections.  At the time I met Sydney (Owner of Visiting Pet Nurses), Cody was also being treated for an ulcer on his eye and a broken ankle.  As you can imagine, in order to be away from the house to attend family events, it became complicated given the multiple needs of Cody.  His healing and safety have always been a family priority.  VPN solved that problem for us and has been instrumental to the quality of our family life ever since.  VPN has been there for us/for Cody while he has healed from ulcers, broken bones and on occasion to feed him safely (requiring blood glucose checks and insulin injections). Cody’s life depends on us, in a different way than a family pet who does not have a chronic, acute or life-threatening situation.  VPN and Sydney Woehler provide high quality, reliable, compassionate and specialized services and peace of mind.  As a client, who was willing to take  on the liability of having someone outside of the family care for Cody on occasion, it is a crying shame to learn that these specialty practices and services are not permitted by the Missouri Veterinary Medical Board.
 
I urge you to consider putting forth legislation that will make the vital services of Sydney Woehler and Visting Pet Nurses be accepted by the Missouri Veterinary Medical Board.  Without an experienced and trained professional, owners like myself are left with little options outside of boarding our pets.  Instead, we have the options of missing quality time with our families, professions, etc or boarding our pets [with a veterinarian].  Neither one of those options is ideal.  To trust and know a business service like VPN is, by far, the most preferred option that gives us quality and peace of mind."

Registered Veterinary Technicians are not allowed to accept payment from anyone but a veterinarian, and it is considered practicing medicine if an RVT should administer doctor prescribed care without the doctor present.

If you can have your nanny give medications to your child, then why shouldn't your veterinary nurse be able to give your cat medications prescribed by the veterinarian? The rules and regulations for veterinary technicians/nurses needs to change!

Sign this petition for better care for your pet by allowing registered veterinary technicians to perform in-home pet nursing under indirect supervision while receiving direct payment from the pet owner.