Letter in Opposition to HB 4912 - Humane Society of Huron Valley (November 8, 2021)

Summary

Tanya Hilgendorf, President and CEO of the Humane Society of Huron Valley, sends a letter dated November 8, 2021, to Committee Chair Lilly and the Rules and Competiveness Committee in strong opposition to HB 4912. It describes the Humane Society of Huron Valley as the second-largest animal shelter in Michigan, serving over 24,000 animals annually, and says its clinic employs nine veterinarians in total. The letter states that the concern in HB 4912 is the new restrictions on telemedicine and the establishment of the vet-client-patient relationship. It also states that Michigan has a severe shortage of veterinarians and that about 67% of households in Michigan own one or more pets.

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Full text

November 8, 2021


Dear Committee Chair Lilly and Rules and Competiveness Committee Members,

I am writing to express our strong opposition to HB 4912. The Humane Society of
Huron Valley is an award-winning animal welfare organization and the second-
largest animal shelter in Michigan, serving over 24,000 animals and the people
who love them annually.

In addition to providing veterinary care to our shelter residents and sick and
injured wildlife, we have a full-service outpatient veterinary clinic serving the
community. We employ nine veterinarians in total, and our clinic serves
thousands of pet families every year with wellness, surgery, and treatment of
sickness and injury.

Of great concern in HB 4912 are the new restrictions made to telemedicine and
the establishment of vet-client-patient relationship.

As you may know, Michigan, like the rest of the United States, is experiencing a
veterinary crisis. We have a severe shortage of veterinarians, and access to
services is costlier and more logistically challenging than ever. Dynamics related
to the pandemic have made the situation worse.

Shelters and rescue groups across Michigan have extreme difficulty hiring their
own vets, with critical positions going unfilled or accessing care through private
vets in the community. As such, they are challenged to provide necessary and,
most of all, timely treatment for homeless and abused animals. In violation of
state animal cruelty laws, some animals are going untreated for sickness and
pain and cannot obtain essential spay/neuter services required by law to be
adopted.

This crisis is not just impacting shelters and rescues, however. It is hurting loving
pet owners across the state. When services can actually be afforded, owners
must make appointments for sick and injured animals weeks and sometimes
months in advance. This not only leaves owners worried and frustrated, but it
leaves animals in a state of suffering and sickness. The cascading impact is that
more animals enter shelters because owners cannot obtain or afford the
veterinary care needed.
Sadly, with more sick animals entering shelters and more shelters unable to
access needed vet care, the more Michigan’s companion animals will be put at
risk of otherwise unnecessary euthanasia.

Telemedicine offers an excellent opportunity to expand care and affordability,
and may effectively open the bottleneck and improve access for organizations
and individuals alike. It also saves time for individuals with less ability to take time
off work, and serves as a practical option for lower-income families and
disabled individuals with transportation barriers.

Telemedicine is also an essential part of addressing restrictions related to the
pandemic, allowing treatment without needing to be in close contact. In fact,
a good percentage of vet clinics are still providing curb-side services only –
services where the establishment of the vet-client relationship is often created
by phone.

In 2018, a seminal study was published that said the shortage of veterinarians
and the expense of care is a national crisis and that one in four families were
going without needed care. Since then, the situation has only become worse.

Most people think of their pets like family. About 67% of households in Michigan
own one or more pets. Expanding telemedicine within the veterinary field has
the potential to help fill a significant and troubling gap in needed services. We
are in desperate need of solutions that offer greater access to veterinary care,
not less.

We ask that you please oppose HB 4912. Thank you so much for your time and
attention.
Sincerely,


Tanya Hilgendorf
President and CEO, Humane Society of Huron Valley


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