AVMA to consider new policies on animal training, camelid castration

When the regular winter session of the AVMA House of Delegates (HOD) convenes January 8-9 in Chicago, one of the items delegates will consider adopting is a proposed policy on animal training and early exposure.

The HOD will also vote on a new policy on castrating alpacas, llamas, and other camelids. Plus, the House will consider a handful of proposed amendments to the AVMA Bylaws. These were submitted by the House Advisory Committee (HAC) with a goal of maintaining clarity, accuracy, and internal consistency in the governance document.

A new proposed policy on "Animal Training and Early Exposure" says that humane training and early exposure are vital for animal welfare, safety, and the human-animal bond, and that training helps animals actively participate in their care.

Before any voting takes place, however, the House plans to deliberate on criteria for obtaining and retaining membership in the HOD as a constituent allied veterinary organization. That discussion will be followed by an informational session on veterinary technician training and education. These are the topics chosen for the Veterinary Information Forum (VIF).

Early exposure and training

The Steering Committee on Human-Animal Interaction (SCHAI) created the new proposed policy on "Animal Training and Early Exposure" after discussions earlier this spring about the critical role that training and early exposure have on how animals react to both their usual environment and when receiving veterinary care.

The committee "believed it important for the AVMA to have policy acknowledging the positive impacts training and early exposure can have when implemented well, and the role veterinarians play in providing related guidance and resources," according to background materials.

The proposed policy states: "The AVMA recognizes that early exposure and humane training are important components to improve welfare, the human-animal bond, and safety for animals and people. Training can facilitate effective husbandry and veterinary care by decreasing stress and allowing animals to be active participants in their care. Therefore, veterinarians play an important role in providing guidance and resources related to early exposure and training.

"The AVMA recommends that:

• During their early developmental stages, animals should be exposed to relevant and appropriate stimuli, which may include different environments, types of handling, people, and other animals
• Animals should be assessed for health and any factors (e.g., sight, hearing, fear, pain) that could impact human-animal interactions and the animal's ability to learn
• Training methods should consider the needs of the species, individual characteristics, and their environment, preferentially using the least aversive training methods possible
• To facilitate effective care, animals should be trained to be safely touched and examined, moved between locations, and lightly restrained."

The AVMA Board of Directors (BOD), during its November meeting, referred the SCHAI's proposed policy to the HOD with a recommendation for approval.

Camelid castration

Another new policy up for consideration by the House is on "Camelid Castration." The proposed policy reads:

"Castration is a surgical procedure performed by veterinarians on male camelids to avoid unwanted breeding and to prevent behavioral problems. The only current acceptable methods are scrotal or pre-scrotal surgical castration. Castration before 18 to 24 months of age may cause stifle joint pathology, such as lateral patellar luxation and early onset of degenerative osteoarthritis. All castration methods can cause pain and distress; therefore, local and/or general anesthesia as well as post-surgical analgesia must be used, including approved or [Animal Medicinal Drug Use Clarification Act]-permissible clinically effective medications."

A proposed policy going before the AVMA House of Delegates in January came about after the American Association of Small Ruminant Practitioners expressed a desire for the AVMA to have a policy on castration procedures for camelids.

The policy recommendation is in response to a request from the American Association of Small Ruminant Practitioners (AASRP) to the Animal Welfare Committee (AWC) that the AVMA have a castration policy for this family of even-toed herbivores.

As the AWC explained in its recommendation to the BOD, "The AASRP emphasized that castration procedures for camelids differ substantially from those for bovids, sheep, and goats-species for which the AVMA already maintains policy."

The AWC convened a subcommittee to review the matter and develop a policy, the recommendation's background states. The draft policy was crafted with substantial input from the AASRP.

The BOD, during its November meeting, referred the proposed policy to the HOD with a recommendation for approval.

Bylaws amendments

Finally, the HAC-a seven-member committee elected by the House-has submitted seven proposed bylaws amendments to the House, with the support of the Board. The proposed revisions address several areas of alignment across the Association's governing documents and reflect the committee's continuing work to codify established practices.

Collectively, these amendments:

• Clarify voting procedures across the HOD, BOD, and membership, ensuring consistent wording and confirming that abstentions are excluded from vote tallies.
• Define "veterinarian" for membership purposes with precise language that reflects current practice while preserving flexibility for graduates of international programs.
• Clarify referral authority between the House and the Board, reaffirming the existing process, including that the HOD may refer any matter to the BOD, and eliminating potential ambiguity.
• Codify established practice regarding the duties of the AVMA president throughout the association year and, specifically, those that the current president is authorized to perform for the office throughout the AVMA Convention.
• Incorporate minor editorial and terminology updates to enhance consistency, modernize language, and remove references inconsistent with AVMA's role as a membership association rather than a regulatory body.

All proposed amendments are nonsubstantive in their effect-they do not change the authority, structure, or governance relationships within the Association-but rather codify existing practice and improve clarity, according to background materials.

VIF topics

There is an ongoing discussion regarding criteria for obtaining and retaining membership in the HOD as a constituent allied veterinary organization, of which there are 18 currently. They represent various species and practice areas, along with veterinary students, industry, and the military.

The House overall comprises members representing 70 state, territorial, and allied veterinary medical groups-a delegate and an alternate delegate from each organization.

The discussion will focus on maintaining contributions from subject matter experts, consistency, and inclusivity as the composition of the HOD continues to evolve. This session will be led by Drs. Diana Thomé and Stuart Brown of the HAC to help guide a working group that will be appointed to address this issue.

Further, the VIF will feature an educational session exploring current trends and challenges in veterinary technician training and education. This includes accreditation best practices, career advancement, and the importance of collaborative models within veterinary teams.

A representative of the AVMA Committee on Veterinary Technician Education and Activities (CVTEA) and one leader from the Association of Veterinary Technician Educators (AVTE) will be invited to the discussion to listen and provide their input. Dr. Jim Weisman, AVMA chief of academic affairs, research, and accreditation, will lead the discussion.

There are currently 217 AVMA CVTEA-accredited veterinary technology programs, which are classified as follows: 184 at full accreditation, 22 at initial accreditation, eight on probationary accreditation, and three on voluntary terminal accreditation. Among all the programs, 28 offer a four-year degree and 11 offer a distance learning program. Only Alaska, District of Columbia, Montana, and Utah do not have AVMA CVTEA-accredited veterinary technology programs.