January 2, 2006

Happy New Year to all of our friends, on two legs and four, who have been such a wonderful source of support, friendship, and love, to Suki and me throughout the past year. 

The Internet has enabled many victims to find and help each other, share experiences and information, and form a true network of veterinary victims across the country that would have been impossible before. As this problem has become more exposed by the Internet, mainstream media, advocacy groups, and others, some veterinarians are on the move to silence anyone who dares to speak out. 

No matter what tactics are used, I promise I will never give up this fight to bring education, information, and most of all, awareness of the problem of incompetent, negligent, and abusive veterinarians. I will continue to fight for my rights and the rights of others to share experiences and speak out against this devastating problem. 

The best news is that I am not alone. Fellow animal advocates in other states are also standing strong to preserve First Amendment rights and protect those who  provide information and evidence to state agencies in the form of complaints against vets and testimony to oversight committees. Web sites and communication by every means -- mail, email, phone, fax -- prove that in every corner of the country, people are striving to do everything possible to help protect our companion animals. We will not be silenced and we will never stop helping each other.

Most of these victims have lost their own companions to veterinary neglect, others are witnessing their pets fighting for their lives as a result of mistreatment, and some pets, happily, survived even the most egregious incompetence with the help of competent and ethical follow-up veterinary care. 

In addition, many victims have had the devastating experience of witnessing the travesty of state boards who protect the vets, not our pets. Because of victims' experiences, all of them are highly motivated to bring this problem front and center where it belongs to help others avoid this kind of tragedy. That was the impetus for this web site, and similar sites, from the beginning -- to help others going through the never-ending nightmare of losing a companion animal to veterinarian neglect and worse. 

There's safety and strength in numbers, and millions of companion animal guardians have a stake in learning what goes on behind closed doors, and in demanding accountability of doctors who think the rules don't apply to them. This goes for veterinarians attempting to silence their human victims after permanently silencing their animal ones -- a disturbing and ugly trend that surfaced this past year and will no doubt present a challenge to all of us in years to come. 

But these past five years have proven to me that we are more than up to that challenge -- almost all the letters I receive have one consistent thread: This happened to me. What can be done? And most importantly: What can I do?

Every advocate in every state has a chance to make a difference in bringing the problem of veterinary incompetence, negligence, and abuse to the forefront, along with exposure of the agencies who protect such atrocities. Some of their stories  are linked to this site. 

Locally, in 2005, we saw the changes in the Texas State Board complaint process that were incorporated into recommendations made by the Texas Sunset Commission and passed by the Texas legislature (see main page) -- changes that will help provide more protection for consumers and their companion animals for a long time to come. And we are just getting started. It is a painfully long and slow process, as change can sometimes be. But it will come. 

THANK YOU for your continued support, encouragement, and friendship. A very special thanks to those brave veterinarians who have supported this cause and have provided moral support and invaluable medical expertise. I cannot tell you what that has meant to me and so many others who cherish their companion animals.  

May all of VAN's friends and supporters and their families -- including the furred and feathered ones  -- have the happiest and healthiest of new years.

Julie Catalano, San Antonio

Suki, Rainbow Bridge