Some things I hear about sure do put "a burr under my saddle" (as my oldest brother would say)
Today's subject: Horse Dentistry. Seriously, does the Oklahoma legislature have nothing more important to do than make sure that people don't tattoo their eyeballs and that cowboys don't work on their horse's teeth. They've passed a new law that now makes it a felony to work on a horse's teeth without a vet's license. Are you kidding me? What's next, a misdemeanor for birthin' a foal?
OKLAHOMA IS THE ONLY STATE IN WHICH THIS IS A FELONY OFFENSE.
From the Lawton Constitution 3/16/09
New Law Addresses Horse Dentistry OKLAHOMA CITY - A new law that makes it a felony to perform dental work on horses without a veterinary license has lassoed an Oklahoma rodeo star.
Bobby Griswold was arrested March 4 after meeting with an undercover state investigator in the parking lot of an Oklahoma City convenience store, officials said. Griswold then injected a horse and performed dental work, the Oklahoma State Board of Veterinary Medical Examiners agent alleged.
Griswold, 40, of Geary, hasn’t been formally charged and is free on bail.
Officials said they acted after getting a complaint and that Griswold had been warned four times by letter to stop the practice of teeth floating.*
In a statement, Griswold said he is preparing a vigorous defense. “My family and I have received unbelievable support through this situation, and it all means so much,” he said. “We are truly blessed.”
Griswold’s supporters say non-veterinarian equine dentists are essential because there are not enough vets to care for the thousands of horses in the state. They also say lay equine dentists have done what he’s accused of for hundreds of years.
Until Nov. 1, such a practice was a misdemeanor
The sponsor of the new law, Rep. Brian Renegar, D-McAlester, said prosecutors declined to charge illegal horse dentists when the violation was only a misdemeanor, but “they can’t ignore a felony. These guys have been breaking the law for years and years.”
*Floating is a process in which a large file (float) is used to file down both any sharp "points" and any other abnormal dental growth that may cause the animal oral discomfort or make chewing of feed inefficient.
From The Oklahoman 3/15/09
His arrest has caused an uproar in the state horse industry, with his supporters contacting legislators to try to get the law repealed. Some are listening. "It’s a big mistake,” said Rep. Charles Key, R-Oklahoma City. "We need to fix that because it’s way too harsh.”
Renegar, a Veterinarian, said he was asked to sponsor the legislation by the state Board of Narcotics and Dangerous Drugs Control. He said it passed in the Legislature without a single "no” vote.
He said the law protects horses because only vets are supposed to be able to administer the sedatives needed to work on teeth. Done improperly, the horse could die, he said. "It’s illegal for anyone but a veterinarian to have these drugs in their possession,” he said.
The legislator also said vets are trained to notice problems in a horse’s mouth, such as symptoms of cancer, which a lay dentist would miss. "It’s not just grinding teeth,” he said
I guess this get me so fired up because my grandpa was a horse doctor. Neighbors in southwest Oklahoma brought their horses to him for treatment. He was not a veterinarian. He probably had little formal schooling, but he knew horses. My father in-law has the exact same story about his grandpa. This is the way it has always been in Oklahoma. Until now.
Don't get me wrong, you should definitely have a qualified person treating any of your animals. I wouldn't ever consider taking one of my dogs to someone who wasn't trained to doctor them.
And I do not condone breaking the law. Clearly this piece of legislation was not researched properly and should be reexamined. If you are a certified Equine Dentist, you should have access to, and training for, all tools and medications necessary to perform your job. Let's use some common sense here, or should I say "horse sense."
Pro Rodeo Champion Bobby Griswold is known throughout the rodeo circuit for his Equine Dentistry. Plus, he was obliviously the victim of a sting operation.
From the Dallas Morning News 1/23/08
"Originally from Washington, Griswold now makes his home in Geary, a stone's throw from Oklahoma City. After graduating from Walla Walla (Wash.) Community College, he was part of the national championship rodeo team in 1991 and 1992 at Southwestern Oklahoma State in Weatherford.
His career as a bronc rider almost ended at the Great Lakes Circuit Finals in 2000 when he was bucked off and landed on his neck. Some rib heads from his sternum were broken off and lodged in his shoulder blade.
He was unable to compete for a while, but he used the time to get his Equine Dentistry Certification.
The movements used in dentistry helped him gain strength in his shoulder and back, allowing him to return to the rodeo arena."
Tom Allen, DVM, who's also certified through the International Association of Equine Dentistry, argues that nonveterinarians who complete equine dental school programs master specific skills some veterinary school graduates never acquire."Graduates of equine dentistry schools put in hundreds of hours studying dental technique," he said. "Veterinarians are not required to demonstrate any proficiency in equine dentistry in order to be licensed."
From Oklahoma Equine Dentistry Law website:
The reality of it is there are too few "teeth floating vets" to fulfill the needs of every horse in this state. There are only 1700 veterinarians in Oklahoma, and only a very small portion of those are willing to float equine teeth. There are between 300,000 and 400,000 horses in Oklahoma. Furthermore, there are fewer than 100 teeth floaters in this state, who perform an average of 250 to 2000 float jobs each per year, which is representative of a very large portion of Oklahoma's horse owners. This trade should not be reserved to only veterinarians, as equine teeth floating is an act of animal husbandry and has been done by laymen for several hundred years. Many of Oklahoma's largest farms, ranches and training centers utilize the services of non-DVM teeth floaters. Many of Oklahoma's veterinarians also utilize non-DVM teeth floaters to help fulfill the needs of their clients. Those DVMs would not allow unqualified individuals to work on their client's horses if they were not confident in his or her ability to do the job. Vets and teeth floaters are chosen by horse owners. They each provide services for the betterment of the horse. Instances where horses have been harmed or killed as a direct result of a layperson floating their teeth are unheard of. Furthermore, most "complaints" to the vet board regarding non-DVM equine dentists are made by certain veterinarians, not horse owners. It is unfair to punish someone because he didn't go through 8 years of training to provide a service that is taught in schools outside of veterinary school, as well as through apprenticeship. We must come to an understanding and be respectful of each others profession. The livelihoods of individuals and their families are at stake and people could lose their homes over this. Most importantly, Oklahoma's horses will suffer. This must stop now. Let the owner make the choice. It is his to make, no one else's.
"Unfortunately, the Oklahoma State Board of Veterinary Medical Examiners, admitted to playing a part in it. They deliberately set him up by asking him to come and work on a horse. You would think law enforcement officials have better things to do than go around arresting people for helping horses. We can only imagine how confused the officers must have been for having to take an American Rodeo Icon to jail for filing teeth."
Read what others (including several vets) say about it here.
To hear from, or to offer support, visit Bobby Griswold's website.
I read several blogs of people who raise horses. I would love to hear your thoughts on this. And to all my readers, "What say you all?"
