Congressman Cory Mills Introduces PETS Act to Strengthen Prescription Monitoring Program Compliance for Veterinary Controlled Substances

WASHINGTON, D.C. - Congressman Cory Mills introduced the Practitioner Enforcement and Tracking of Substances Act (PETS Act), legislation aimed at strengthening Prescription Drug Monitoring Program (PDMP) compliance for veterinarians and improving transparency and accountability in the dispensing of controlled substances. This legislation will help prevent the exploitation or intentional harming of animals for the purpose of obtaining controlled substances.

The PETS Act updates federal law to clarify that licensed veterinarians must comply with PDMP requirements when prescribing or dispensing controlled substances, while establishing clear reporting standards that account for veterinary patients by linking records to the animal's owner or primary caretaker. The bill also strengthens reporting requirements for non-fatal overdose events and reinforces consistent standards for controlled substance oversight across practitioners. Currently, different states have different rules for tracking prescription drugs, and vets don't all report the same way. That creates a gap where some controlled drugs may not be properly tracked or connected to the person using them, which can be taken advantage of to misuse or divert those drugs.

"Prescription drug monitoring programs are a critical tool in combating substance misuse and protecting public health," Congressman Mills said. "The PETS Act ensures these safeguards are applied consistently, including in the veterinary space where controlled substances still require proper oversight. This legislation strengthens accountability, improves data reporting, and helps close gaps that can be exploited in the system."

Key Provisions of the PETS Act
• Requires veterinarians to comply with PDMP consultation and reporting requirements when prescribing controlled substances

• Clarifies reporting procedures for veterinary patients by associating records with owners or caretakers

• Expands PDMP reporting requirements to include non-fatal overdose events within 72 hours

• Strengthens federal standards to reduce misuse and abuse of controlled substances

• Reinforces consistency across states in PDMP compliance expectations for all practitioners

Prescription Drug Monitoring Programs (PDMPs) are state-run electronic databases used to track controlled substance prescriptions. While veterinarians are sometimes subject to PDMP requirements, compliance standards vary significantly by state. The PETS Act seeks to create clearer federal guidance and improve consistency in reporting and oversight. The legislation also expands reporting requirements related to non-fatal overdoses, strengthening data collection efforts that can inform prevention strategies and public health responses.

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