In Colorado, we love our pets, so it’s personal when the care they need is out of reach. A recent Colorado State University study found that veterinary care is unattainable for a third of pet owners.
This is why a group of animal welfare advocates have come together to lead ballot initiatives 144 and 145. These measures will safely increase access to veterinary care in Colorado by expanding the use of telehealth and by introducing a career pathway for a master’s-level veterinary professional associate (VPA) position, similar to a physician assistant in human medicine.
In a recent op-ed, state politician Karen McCormick, raised concerns about these two ballot initiatives. We are a group of veterinarians with a lifelong commitment to the well-being of animals and the community. We are leading this measure and feel compelled to offer our perspective on why these measures are crucial for the health of our pets. Initiatives 144 and 145 are critical steps to safely increasing veterinary care for pets in Colorado and addressing the dire shortage of veterinary professionals.
Animal Health Economics estimates a shortage of nearly 15,000 veterinarians will exist in the U.S. by 2030, leaving as many as 75 million pets without veterinary care. This is largely the result of a veterinary workforce crisis. There are simply too few veterinary professionals to meet the demand. A study from the American Association of Veterinary Medical Colleges (AAVMC) found that there were 2,000-3,000 more open jobs than veterinarians available to hire.
Ballot Initiative 144 increases access to veterinary telemedicine, allowing pet owners to create a new relationship with a veterinarian and receive care virtually when appropriate. This same model has been successful in human healthcare, and was passed nearly unanimously in Florida, Arizona and California last year. Rep. McCormick claims to have passed a bill (HB 24-1048) on behalf of the veterinary trade association as an “expansion” of tele-technologies. What she fails to share is that her bill eliminated options for many pet owners to access veterinary care virtually.
Even Gov. Jared Polis stated his disappointment in this new restriction when the bill passed, saying he was concerned that it “creates additional impediments to veterinary care, especially in rural areas.” Initiative 144 repairs this damage and truly expands telehealth.
Ballot Initiative 145 creates a career pathway for a veterinary “PA”. These professionals will have a master’s degree in veterinary clinical care and must work under the supervision of a licensed Colorado veterinarian. Initiative 145 requires robust training from a leading veterinary school in the country. It also empowers the State Board of Veterinary Medicine to create licensing and other regulatory requirements. Initiative 145 leads to increased capacity in veterinary clinics, particularly in rural communities, while driving down costs for pet owners.
Despite McCormick’s statement that these initiatives are being funded by corporate interests outside of Colorado, to date, no funding has been received from any national veterinary corporation. These initiatives are being driven by the Vet Care Coalition, a grassroots alliance of veterinarians, technicians, animal welfare advocates and pet owners in Colorado who see the devastating impact of the critical veterinary workforce crisis.
It is important that this effort is led by the individuals most impacted by the pet care crisis. Last week alone, more than 100 Colorado pet owners contributed over $7,000 to the campaign. The Dumb Friends League is the biggest contributor because they run one of the only subsidized veterinary hospitals in the state and they see firsthand the pet owners who struggle to access care every day. They care for the pets that other private practices, like the one Rep. McCormick retired from many years ago, turn away because they are under-staffed and unaffordable for many Coloradans.
By supporting these ballot initiatives, voters like you are increasing access to care in Colorado. You are preventing animal suffering. And you are ensuring Colorado pets get the care they need and deserve regardless of their zip code, or their owner’s paycheck. These aren’t the only solutions to the veterinary crisis, but they will make a big difference. Let’s work together to protect animals. This November, we encourage the voters of Colorado to use their voice to prevent animal suffering and increase access to veterinary care.
Apryl Steele is the CEO of the Dumb Friends League. She has nearly two decades of experience in veterinary practice and served as president of the Colorado Veterinary Medical Association (CVMA), the Denver Area Veterinary Medical Society, the American Association of Feline Practitioners, and the Animal Assistance Foundation. She earned her DVM at Colorado State University. Missy Tasky graduated from Auburn University College of Veterinary Medicine and currently works as the Lead Medical Team Coach at Blue Heron Consulting in Denver. Tasky was also a founding partner of Gentle Touch Animal Hospital. Jo Myers brings more than three decades of experience to her role as a veterinary consultant for the telehealth marketplace, Vetster. She graduated from Iowa State University College of Veterinary Medicine and has taught at an accredited veterinary technician program.
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