Spring 2026 Town & Country Call Newsletter

VVMAINFORMATION

VVMASTAFF

TalyaGeorge

Executive Director talya@vvma org

VictoriaStaples

Associate Director victoria@vvma org

SamanthaTeunis

Association Coordinator admin@vvma.org

SUBMISSIONDEADLINE

The

of

MEMBERASSISTANCEPROGRAM &WORK-LIFESERVICES

The VVMA partners with McLaughlin Young and offers a wonderful benefit for VVMA members. The Member Assistance Program & Work-Life Services are available to VVMA members and their immediate family.

Reasons to use the MAP include: financial planning, marital difficulties, parenting, stress, depression, work-related concerns, alcohol and drug use/abuse, grief and loss, or preventative.

If

OFFICERS

SherriGard,DVM President

BretVanLear,DVM

President-Elect

EdFallin,DVM

Vice President

CourtneyConroy,DVM

Secretary-Treasurer

BrianNeumann,DVM

Immediate Past President

DIRECTORS

RebeccaBeamer,DVM

Southwest VA OPENPOSITION

Fredericksburg

JaclynClement,DVM

Piedmont

CarolineEckstrom,DVM Northern VA OPENPOSITION

Central

BomHarris,DVM VAFAP

KielHausler,DVM

Prince William ChristopherHussion,DVM

Loudoun

OPENPOSITION

Southside VMA

ShellyMcDaniel,DVM VAEP

NolanProck,DVM

Coastal

ThomasSchudlich‘28

Student Representative

AllisonSparks,DVM

Appalachian

JamieStewart,DVM

Blacksburg Area

A’ndreaVanSchoick,DVM Shenandoah

AshleyNelson,DVM

Blue Ridge

CourtneyWiegard,DVM Roanoke Valley

C.GarrettWood,DVM

Jefferson

AVMAREPRESENTATIVES

LaurenMaxey,DVM

Delegate

TerrySwecker,DVM

Alternate-Delegate

Message

Greetings Virginia Veterinarians!

SherriGard,DVM

Spring has hit the Piedmont, and I am personally looking forward to the “suns out guns out” part of equine veterinary medicine. It’s time for ice cream stops and finding new flavors of electrolytes while jamming beach music in the trusty vet truck. The small animal clinics are having the air conditioning checked and prepping for the swarm of kittens or praying against the heat stroke deities.

Looking back over the last quarter, I am pleased to say that the Virginia Veterinary Medical Association has survived the winter like a snapping turtle, although with more movement and less brumation. January’s DayatThe Capitol was well attended and highlighted the importance of our voices to our legislators on numerous significant issues affecting our profession and our state. Thanks to Dr. Jason Bollenbeck and our lobbyist, Susan, for leading those discussions.

The 2026VirginiaVeterinaryConference was hosted in Roanoke this February, with the theme of “Collaboration” running throughout the convention. Farriers were invited to attend the equine podiatry sessions, and candid conversations were hosted during our final hour with a panel discussion on the state of equine practice in the Commonwealth, mentorship, and organized veterinary medicine. Licensed veterinary technicians were invited to join in small animal lectures. Special thanks to Dr. Katherine Burke-Johnson for providing our engaging keynote session, highlighting the purpose, passion and impact of a career in veterinary medicine and challenging attendees to pivot if the occasion arises. Friday night, the 2026 Executive Committee took their oath and were instated in roles to serve the VVMA. We welcomed our central region director, Dr. Ed Fallin, to the executive committee as he steps into the role of Vice President this year. Dr. Brian Neumann now transitions to Immediate Past President, and we extend our thanks to Dr. Nathaniel Burke as he rotates off the board.

(continued on next page)

Message

SherriGard,DVM

Awards ceremonies and hospitality suites were also commingled with veterinarians, licensed veterinary technicians, and our industry representatives, strengthening our relationships and sharing laughter. We all agree that is the REAL purpose of a conference.

Spring will continue with graduation season and roll into summer quickly enough. As the seasons change, so does our industry. Together, we will weather spring storms and hurricane season, both in life and in practice. As yourPresident,Iwanttocontinuethecollaborationandsupportbetweenall aspectsofveterinarymedicine: from the small animal clinics to industry, feline to food animal, equine to exotics, solo road warriors to corporate practices. We are all in this together and I could not think of a group that I want to face the storms with than all of you.

I challenge each of my colleagues to continue to support each other in all walks of our lives: mentor the newer graduates, support those in their twilight season, engage your assistants and receptionists, and above all else HAVE FUN! If thereisanywayformetohelpyoupersonallyorprofessionally,myphoneis alwayson...becauseIamanequinevetandthat’showweroll!

Happy Trails,

Sherri Gard, DVM

Sherri Gard, DVM 2026 VVMA President

Veterinary Team Member

Mentor of the Year

Commercial Representative

Veterinary Service Distinguished VA Veterinarian Paul F. Landis VA Veterinarian

2026LegislativeReport

In keeping with typical long sessions of the Virginia General Assembly, the 2026 Session saw 3,637 bills and resolutions introduced - a bit below the 4,000 mark many long-time observers thought it would reach.

It was once again a busy 60 days at the Capitol for the VVMA, with the usual array of bills we have seen before plus new legislative initiatives that directly involved the Practice Act As always, we engaged with the patrons to ensure any legislation headed to the Governor was the best it could be for VVMA members and the profession as a whole.

Below are the bills that passed both the House and Senate and are pending in the Governor’s Office.

HB112

DelegateAmyLaufer(D-Albemarle)

SB344

SenatorJenniferBoysko(D-Fairfax)

DepartmentofWildlifeResources;prematureseparationandhybridizationof mammalianwildlifeprohibited;exceptions. Makes it unlawful to prematurely separate any mammalian wildlife offspring born in captivity from the mother prior to the offspring turning four months of age, except that wildlife offspring may be prematurely separated if a medical necessity exists pursuant to a written order from a veterinarian with appropriate species-specific experience and expertise licensed to practice in the Commonwealth. The bill excludes the following from its provisions: (i) agricultural animals; (ii) noncommercial transfers or trades between accredited zoological facilities; (iii) an accredited zoological facility, as defined in the bill, that retains the mammalian wildlife offspring separated by such zoological facility; (iv) the Department of Wildlife Resources, a person operating under a wildlife rehabilitator, scientific collection, or endangered and threatened species permit approved by the Department, or a person operating under a species recovery plan approved by the Department; (v) the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service; or (vi) any person rendering emergency neonatal aide, including the temporary separation of up to 72 hours until a licensed veterinarian can be engaged for assessment and treatment. The bill also makes it unlawful to intentionally and for commercial purposes propagate mammalian wildlife of different species, also known as hybridization. This bill is identical to SB 344.

The VVMA actively supported these bills and Dr Kelly Gottschalk testified in the House Agriculture Committee on the importance of this legislation. These bills passed last year but they were vetoed by Governor Youngkin after he succumbed to pressure from Valley Republicans sympathetic to the owners of the Natural Bridge Zoo. This same handful of Republicans voted against the bills this year but with an overwhelming Democratic majority, the legislation passed both houses with solid majorities.

(continued on next page)

2026LegislativeReport

HB1103

DelegateKeithHodges(R-Gloucester)

Manufacturing,selling,giving,distributing,orpossessingmedetomidine; penalties.Provides that any person who knowingly manufactures, sells, gives, distributes, or possesses with the intent to manufacture, sell, give, or distribute the substance medetomidine, when intended for human consumption, is guilty of a Class 5 felony. Under the bill, any person who knowingly possesses medetomidine, when intended for human consumption, is guilty of a Class 1 misdemeanor. Under the bill, it is not an offense to (i) manufacture medetomidine for legitimate veterinary use; (ii) distribute or sell medetomidine for authorized veterinary use; (iii) possess, administer, prescribe, or dispense medetomidine in good faith for use by animals within the course of legitimate veterinary practice; or (iv) possess or administer medetomidine pursuant to a valid prescription from a licensed veterinarian.

Delegate Keith Hodges (R-Gloucester) is one of two pharmacists in the General Assembly, and he reached out to the VVMA to let us know he was introducing this legislation We worked with him on the language, which tracks with the way we codified the treatment of xylazine in 2024.

HB1287

DelegateLauraJaneCohen(D-Fairfax)

BoardofVeterinaryMedicine;applicationsforlicensureorrenewal;indicationof interesttoserveasaveterinarianforapublicorprivateanimalshelter. Directs the Board of Veterinary Medicine to amend its applications for licensure or renewal of licensure to allow applicants to indicate interest in serving as a veterinarian for public or private animal shelters and to provide disclosure that, if the applicant indicates such interest, the Board shall provide their name and contact information to the State Veterinarian for inclusion on a list distributed to animal shelters quarterly. As passed both houses, this is a Section 1 bill, which means the language of the bill does not become part of the Code of Virginia - this directive does NOT appear in the Practice Act.

The VVMA opposed this bill as introduced (a non-Section 1 bill) for several reasons, primarily because licensing applications and the data on those applications is protected. The initial draft disregarded those protections and it was essentially unworkable from our and the Department of Health Professions’ perspective.

Our other concern was the organization who brought the bill - Best Friends Animal Society headquartered in Utah. This group has moved into Virginia and it has heavily influenced a number of the Commonwealth’s public and private animal shelters to move away from the Virginia model of open-admission sheltering. Best Friends has given a number of monetary grants to Virginia shelters in exchange for them adopting Best Friends “no kill” shelter model Shelters that have linked with Best Friends are now routinely turning away owner-surrenders and “cherry picking” the animals they do take in. Sick, injured or behaviorally-challenged dogs or cats raise euthanasia numbers in year-end disposition reports so Best Friends’ answer to those animals in need of sheltering is not to accept them.

(continued on page 10)

2026LegislativeReport

The terrible death of an animal dumped on the side of the road by desperate owners turned away from a shelter flies in the face of Virginia’s sheltering system - but if the animal doesn’t enter a shelter and get counted, then these unrecorded, noneuthanasia deaths don’t reflect on year-end disposition reports. Best Friends is reigniting the “no kill” movement in Virginia and animals and their owners are paying a steep price for manipulating shelter policies to be “no kill” on paper.

We see this bill as a further attempt by Best Friends to continue their encroachment into animal welfare in Virginia. There is nothing prohibiting a Virginia-licensed veterinarian from reaching out to public shelters and private rescues to offer their assistance. This group’s insertion into the licensing process at DHP bears close scrutiny. We have concerns that Best Friends will attempt to pressure veterinarians that participate in the voluntary process created in the substitute bill to abandon open-admission sheltering policies and adopt their manipulated “no kill” process instead. Again, if any veterinarian has the time and interest to assist shelters in need, we encourage you to reach out to those facilities directly instead of providing your name to DHP in the licensing process.

SB331

SenatorDanicaRoem(D-PrinceWilliam)

BoardofVeterinaryMedicine;traineeships.Expands eligibility for veterinary traineeship programs to include (i) graduates of an American Veterinary Medical Association-accredited college of veterinary medicine who have not yet passed the North American Veterinary Licensing Examination (NAVLE); and (ii) registrants in the Educational Commission for Foreign Veterinary Graduates (ECFVG) program who have taken and received a passing score on the NAVLE and have completed all steps of the ECFVG program except for the clinical proficiency examination.

This legislation allows a pathway to limited practice for graduates of foreign veterinary colleges waiting to take the examinations required to be licensed to practice veterinary medicine in the Commonwealth. The concept was brought to Senator Roem by one of her constituents, Dr. Lina Cortes. The VVMA worked with Senator Roem, Dr . Cortes, and the Department of Health Professions to draft the substitute language of the bill.

In 2024, the General Assembly passed HB 848, which established veterinary traineeships for graduates of US veterinary colleges waiting to take the NAVLE. This legislation passed both bodies unanimously, and it was supported by the Virginia Veterinary Medical Association

The language of the substitute in SB 331 builds on the 2024 legislation and it enables foreign veterinary school graduates waiting to take their Clinical Proficiency Exam to participate in the same traineeship program as US graduates and gain practice experience in a limited setting, working under the direct supervision of a Virginialicensed veterinarian. The Board of Veterinary Medicine will need to amend the regulations it developed for graduates of US veterinary schools to also include the foreign graduates covered by this new legislation.

(continued on next page)

2026LegislativeReport

SB 707

SenatorDannyDiggs(R-Poquoson)

Devocalizationofdogsprohibited. Makes it unlawful for any person engaged in the practice of veterinary medicine to perform a surgical devocalization procedure on a dog, except when such procedure is necessary to treat or relieve any injury, disease, or congenital defect that is causing or may cause the dog physical pain or harm

The VVMA worked with the patron and the Department of Health Professions to draft new language that differed dramatically from the introduced bill. As passed both bodies, this legislation for canine devocalization mirrors the process created at the Board of Veterinary Medicine for managing cat declaw procedures. There is no criminal penalty attached to performing the procedure; any disciplinary measure for performing the procedure beyond what is allowed under SB 707 will be handled by the Board.

In developing our response to this legislation, we sent out a survey to the VVMA membership to gauge members’ views on this procedure Over 97% percent of respondents said they would not perform this procedure to mitigate barking behavioral issues. We also learned that the VRCVM no longer teaches the procedure. Given this feedback from our own members and the stance on the procedure from the AVMA, we worked with the patron to create a workable substitute.

Asalways,thankstoourmembershipfortheirinterestinourlegislativeprogram andtheiradvocacyattheGeneralAssembly!

VDH:RabiesSurvey&TickSurveillance

To better support clinical partners, the Virginia Department of Health invitesanimal healthcareproviders and others working in veterinary clinical settings to complete a brief 15 minute survey on rabies information and exposure response needs Participation is optional, may be anonymous, and there is no limit on how many staff from a single practice may respond.

The survey link is provided below and will remain open until April30. A summary of results will appear in an upcoming VVMA Town & Country Call newsletter

RabiesSurvey

As of February2026, the VDH has expanded its CitizenTickSurvey to accept tick submissions collected from companion animals. The survey was initially designed to capture data on human/tick encounters, but in light of the role companion animals play in facilitating tick/human encounters, the survey has been expanded. This free serviceis forVirginiaresidents who discover ticks on themselves, other persons, and now pets within the Commonwealth, to have expert entomologists identify the species and provide a public dashboard with information on tick encounters by county and tick species

ClassifiedAds

SpringCEEvents