HSUS vs. the American Medical Veterinary Association (AVMA)

Jan. 14, 2008: The HSUS and the Association of Veterinarians for
Animal Rights join forces, launch Humane Society Veterinary Medical
Association. HSUS press release. "All too often, the AVMA sides with
animal-use industries, and not with animals," said [HSUS President
Wayne] Pacelle. "... The Humane Society Veterinary Medical
Association will be a voice for the vast majority of veterinarians
not in the employ of industries that do harm to animals."

Jan. 14, 2008: Veterinary corps. Blog of HSUS President Wayne
Pacelle. "... much to my great disappointment, the leading veterinary
organization in the US, the AVMA, has often taken positions at odds
with animal welfare and proved to be an impediment to social progress
for animals."

Apr. 29, 2008: The Pew Commission on Industrial Farm Animal
Production publishes the report "Putting meat on the table:
Industrial farm animal production in America" (PDF format). Its
authors begin using the report in Washington, DC to raise awareness
about their recommendations concerning the use of antimicrobials and
antibiotics in food production.

August 2009: The AVMA response to the final report of the Pew
Commission on industrial farm production. (PDF) Also available in
HTML: Executive summary. "Both in substance and in approach ... the
Pew report contains significant flaws and major dalliances from both
science and reality. These missteps lead to dangerous and
under-informed recommendations about the nature of our food system -
and shocking recommendations for interventions that are scarcely
commensurate with risk."

Aug. 19, 2009: AVMA off course from veterinarian's oath. Blog of HSUS
President Wayne Pacelle, . "... it's startling when we have to call
out groups that should stand in the forefront of animal protection
but are part of the problem when it comes to the mistreatment of
animals. That is, sadly, the case with the AVMA." Pacelle
characterizes the Pew report as expressing "support for a variety of
important reforms in the realm of industrial agriculture, including
federal legislation to end the widespread, routine use of
sub-therapeutic antibiotics on factory farms."

Aug. 21, 2009: AVMA CEO Dr. Ron DeHaven responds to HSUS criticism.
"Tugging on people's heartstrings to raise money is easy. Finding
real solutions to animal welfare concerns, and the challenges that go
with them, is not easy. HSUS certainly excels at the former, but the
AVMA continues to focus our energies and our resources on the latter
- on finding legitimate solutions to these complex problems."
YouTube. Click here for transcript.

Aug. 21, 2009: HSUS blasts AVMA's stance on Pew report. Editorial,
Drovers News. Includes comments from AVMA CEO Ron DeHaven, e.g.:
"Obviously, HSUS is frustrated that they are not controlling AVMA, so
therefore they are slinging as much mud as they can, and using this
opportunity to bolster their Humane Society Veterinary Medical
Association and other groups."

Sept. 1, 2009: AVMA says Pew Commission report is flawed,
unscientific. JAVMA News. "Largely, our conclusions were that the Pew
report was a superficial look at animal agriculture, and the
recommendations lacked deep understanding of the issues involved" -
Dr. David Smith, a professor and extension dairy and beef
veterinarian, University of Nebraska-Lincoln.

Seems the plans of the HSUS backfired.