Animal rights advocates are seeking to be heard, and a new initiative from the North American Veterinary Community (NAVC) hopes to give them a platform. Last month at VMX, the organization launched “embrace,” an animal advocacy program that keeps animal advocates informed on proposed legislation, rules, and regulations that may impact pet health. The program, which is aimed at veterinarians and animal owners alike, prompts members to participate in calls-to-action, including signing petitions and contacting policymakers on specific legislations. The program, NAVC says, launches with the support of several motions already introduced to the U.S. House of Representatives, including: “National Animal Rescue Day” (H.R. 34), designating the first Saturday in October as a day of support for homeless dogs and cats across the U.S.; Strengthening Support for Veterans with Service Animals Act (H.R. 4952), protecting veteran access to taking service dogs on airplanes; and Puppies Assisting Wounded Service Members (PAWS) Act (H.R. 3103 and S. 2949), connecting veterans afflicted with post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) with service dogs. “What makes ‘embrace’ and the NAVC so unique is we bring together all members of the pet-loving community—veterinary professionals and pet owners—to advocate on behalf of animals everywhere,” says NAVC interim CEO, Eugene O’Neill. “Through NAVC’s global community of 500,000 veterinarians and other animal health-care leaders, ‘embrace’ provides a powerful platform for us to work together to build a better future for animals.”
