"Good samaritans": a legislative solution for mandatory reporting of suspected animal abuse.

F ew would doubt that animals, particularly companion animals, have enjoyed an enhanced status in our society in recent decades. No longer viewed merely in the agrarian context of providing food and labor assistance for humans, animals are now considered by many as close companions and, as evidenced in various reported studies, as “family members” and even “children.” It is arguable then that with the enhanced status of animals, the legal risks to veterinarians as their primary caregivers has also increased; animal owners appear to be more willing to seek redress for alleged improper conduct by members of the veterinary community and are seeking higher monetary awards to compensate them for the loss or injury of their family member. As courts throughout North America continue to wrestle with the notion of providing civil damages for “loss of companionship,” veterinarians must also consider the impact of the new place animals have in society when considering cases of suspected animal abuse. At present, there appears to be a great deal of confusion among practitioners in many provinces on a 2-fold basis: When should the practitioner report suspected abuse and what risks are presented to the practitioner who is alleging cruel treatment, if that opinion is later found to be incorrect?