Public health roles for small animal practitioners.

JAVMA, Vol 230, No. 4, February 15, 2007 T terrorist attacks of September 11, 2001, and the anthrax scares later that fall heralded a new era of public health concerns in the United States. Bioterrorism (the deliberate release of viruses, bacteria, or other agents used to cause illness or death in people, animals, or plants) and agroterrorism (intentional attack on agriculture infrastructures with biological agents) are recognized as terror threats equal to traditional weaponry. The post-9/11 era of public health magnifies the role that all health professions play in protecting citizens by preventing or controlling intentional health threats. The veterinary medical profession has been involved in the protection of public health since the late 19th century. In recent years, the veterinary profession has changed toward a greater number of small animal (canine and feline) veterinarians and diminishing numbers of veterinarians practicing in fields traditionally associated with public health responsibilities, such as food animal, agricultural, regulatory, and public health practice. The focus of veterinary manpower on the small animal pet population has been a response to the increasing value US residents place on their pets and the desire that pet owners have for advanced veterinary health care. The importance of pets in society is evident by the increasing economic impact of pet food manufacturing and sales and the response to recent natural disasters such as Hurricanes Katrina and Rita. Many residents refused to evacuate the affected areas without their pets. In the weeks following landfall, public outcry for the care of pets in Katrina-affected areas and fundraising in excess of $43 million rivaled concern for human victims. Policies that expand the public health role of small animal veterinarians can address the current and anticipated scarcity of public health veterinary services during this time of increased threat to animal, agricultural, and human well-being. In cultivating the small animal veterinary dimension of public health, the veterinary profession will position itself in a manner that more accurately reflects the integration of animal and human health in 21st-century America.