Today, animal trainers, zookeepers and veterinarians contact Dr. Wallace for advice on safely reporting wrongdoing and what to expect if they, too, blow the whistle on behalf of animals that cannot advocate for themselves. <\/span><\/p>\n In addition to practicing full time, Dr. Wallace is the chief veterinarian at Veterinarians International, an organization providing veterinary resources to underserved communities worldwide.<\/p>\n Most veterinary professionals will never be the center of a national controversy or pursue a leadership role in advocacy on top of a 40-hour workweek. However, Dr. Wallace serves as an example of how veterinary professionals are uniquely equipped to lead systemic change.<\/span><\/p>\n Veterinary professionals devote their lives to advocating for animals in their care. Our education and backgrounds enable us to view problems from multiple perspectives \u2014 animal health, public health and environmental responsibility \u2014 which makes us well-suited to find solutions.<\/span><\/p>\n On a broader scale, advocacy is a natural extension of clinical work. When treating patients no longer satisfies our mission in life, we take action. For some of us, the issues are a lack of racial diversity, the need for more mental health resources or the yearning to promote sustainability in veterinary practices. For others, inhumane agricultural practices or global vaccine shortages spark a desire to create change.<\/p>\n Advocacy can take many forms, <\/span>including speaking at conferences, pub<\/span>lishing research, building support networks, serving on boards, lobbying for <\/span>policy change or engaging in boots-on-the-ground work. Some advocate quietly, <\/span>while others take bold steps. However <\/span>big or small their involvement, veterinary professionals help solve larger problems.<\/span><\/p>\n There is strength in numbers, and we can make a greater impact together than we can alone. Starting a movement takes only an idea and a few like-minded individuals. <\/span><\/p>\n Here are six nonprofit groups displaying the diversity of opportunities available for veterinarians and other team members to become advocates for change.<\/span><\/p>\n 1. Veterinary Sustainability Alliance (VSA)<\/span><\/strong><\/p>\n Founded in 2022, the Veterinary Sustainability Alliance unites animal health professionals committed to advancing environmental stewardship within the veterinary field. The group drew inspiration from similar organizations, such as Veterinarians for Climate Action in Australia and Vet Sustain in the United Kingdom, and formed a North American organization to fill a void.<\/p>\n Dr. Colleen Duncan, a professor of microbiology, immunology and pathology at the Colorado State University College of Veterinary Medicine and Biomedical Sciences and one of VSA\u2019s founders, recalled how her academic experience motivated her to get involved in nonprofit work.<\/span><\/p>\n \u201cStudents in my elective course had been increasingly selecting environmental topics, like heat waves, air pollution or the spread of parasites in warming climates, for their term projects. Recognizing their great concern motivated me to expand my efforts in this space, both within and beyond academia,\u201d the veterinarian said.<\/span><\/p>\n The organization is developing a sus<\/span>tainability certification for veterinary <\/span>clinics. The program is guided, in part, by successful efforts in other countries and is informed by professional organizations, including the American and <\/span>Canadian veterinary medical associations. <\/span><\/p>\n VSA certification will recognize clinics for reducing their environmental footprints and encouraging pet owners to reduce greenhouse gas emissions, cut water consumption and develop animal-inclusive disaster plans. \u00a0 \u00a0<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n The approach is about support, not guilt or pressure. <\/span><\/p>\n \u201cIt doesn\u2019t have to be all or nothing,\u201d Dr. Duncan said. \u201cYou can make several small changes that fit within, or even enhance, a clinic\u2019s current workflow, and it still makes a difference. That\u2019s what we want to show people.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n 2. Veterinary Association for Farm Animal Welfare (VAFAW)<\/strong><\/p>\n This young but influential group was founded by veterinarians who had been informally collaborating on animal welfare issues. In early 2024, they launched the Veterinary Association for Farm Animal Welfare to bring science-based animal welfare principles into food animal policy. Since then, the organization has gained more than 1,100 members from 34 countries.<\/span><\/p>\n \u201cSeveral of us had been working on various issues, just loosely organized,\u201d said Dr. Gwendolen Reyes-Illg, the group\u2019s director of policy development. \u201cBut over time, it became clear to a lot of us that there were opportunities within the veterinary profession to lead when it came to farm animal welfare.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n Much of the motivation stemmed from watching welfare science struggle to gain traction with regulators.<\/span><\/p>\n \u201cWe were realizing that all this great farm animal welfare-related research <\/span>wasn\u2019t getting into policy,\u201d Dr. Reyes-Illg said. \u201cWe thought if we had an organization that could focus on that, we could bridge that gap.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n The group conducts outreach to gain industry support and then engages with policymakers to petition for change. The organization recently helped collect nearly 900 signatures, including over 500 from American Veterinary Medical Association members, in a petition asking the AVMA to revise its draft guidelines on depopulation. (Depopulation is the act of eliminating entire populations of farm animals due to disease threats, market disruptions or feed contamination.) <\/span><\/p>\n \u201cIn the three years since bird flu hit the U.S., over 162 million chickens, turkeys and ducks have been depopulated. Most of those have been through <\/span>heat stroke-based depopulation methods, <\/span>such as ventilation shutdown plus,\u201d Dr. Reyes-Illg said. <\/span><\/p>\n The group and signees want to move \u201cventilation shutdown plus,\u201d which kills animals by stopping airflow and increasing heat inside a building, from Tier 2, which describes methods that \u201cdemonstrate rapid loss of consciousness,\u201d to Tier 3, meaning methods \u201ccontrary to good animal welfare.\u201d Tier 2 methods are widely used due to their perceived veterinary approval, while Tier 3 methods are discouraged.<\/span><\/p>\n As of June 2025, the AVMA had not taken action to revise the guidelines.<\/span><\/p>\n VAFAW\u2019s influence in policymaking comes partly through the leadership of Cameron Krier Massey, a lawyer turned welfare advocate. <\/span><\/p>\n \u201cI worked in Congress for a senator from Texas, and I became passionate about farm animal welfare after living on a working farm in Pennsylvania and having a menagerie of livestock myself,\u201d she said of her career path.<\/span><\/p>\n While completing a master\u2019s degree in animal welfare and behavior through the University of Pennsylvania School of Veterinary Medicine, she joined VAFAW as the director of external affairs and advocacy. <\/span><\/p>\n \u201cIt\u2019s been such a blessing,\u201d Krier Massey said. \u201cI can apply my expertise in messaging, framing and advocacy communications to an issue I feel passionate about.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n 3. Not One More Vet (NOMV)<\/span><\/strong><\/p>\n Many veterinary professionals have heard of Not One More Vet, but most are unfamiliar with the breadth of the organization\u2019s services. What began as a private Facebook support group for veterinarians has evolved into a global nonprofit addressing mental health and wellness. NOMV serves veterinarians, veterinary technicians, students and support staff worldwide. <\/span><\/p>\n \u201cNOMV was created, unfortunately, because a well-known vet, Sophia Yin, died by suicide in 2014,\u201d said executive director Gigi Tsontos, a licensed clinical social worker. \u201cDuring that time, some of her colleagues and friends \u2014 specifically Dr. Nicole MacArthur \u2014 came together and said, \u2018I want a place where we can chat about this because we need to make some changes in the industry.\u2019\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n The group operates in three programmatic areas: resources, support and education. The resources program awards small grants to help individuals facing urgent challenges, such as housing insecurity, transportation breakdowns or access to therapy, and larger emergency grants to clinics affected by natural disasters or other crises.<\/span><\/p>\n \u201cWe\u2019re making an actual impact in the moment for grant recipients,\u201d Tsontos said. \u201cIn 2024, we provided over $101,000 in support grants to 307 people and $65,000 in emergency grants to 17 clinics.\u201d <\/span><\/p>\n NOMV\u2019s support program is rooted in peer-to-peer connection. Trained volunteers moderate long-running Facebook forums. The Lifeboat program offers anonymous, asynchronous support from volunteers with similar backgrounds, such as veterinary technicians supporting other veterinary technicians. Licensed mental health professionals oversee the program. <\/span>NOMV also offers free individual and group sessions to help veterinary professionals develop skills in resilience, communication and emotional regulation.<\/p>\n The education program focuses on disseminating practical, evidence-based information, including short-format guides and webinars, on topics such as compassion fatigue and mental health. NOMV also operates the Clear Blueprint program, a workplace certification model for practices dedicated to promoting mental health and well-being.<\/p>\n \u201cWe try to make digestible, easy information that can be used when someone\u2019s struggling,\u201d Tsontos said. <\/span><\/p>\n NOMV\u2019s staff is small, but a vast network of volunteers stands ready. <\/span><\/p>\n \u201cI think of us as small but mighty,\u201d Tsontos said.<\/span><\/p>\n Dr. Jenna Wallace provided free, 24-hour veterinary services to the community of Lahaina after the 2023 Maui wildfires.<\/p><\/div>\n 4. Multicultural Veterinary Medical Association (MCVMA)<\/span><\/strong><\/p>\n The Multicultural Veterinary Medical Association was established to confront a reality that many in the profession have long acknowledged but few have openly addressed: Veterinary medicine lacks diversity. MCVMA began in 2014 as a Facebook group created by two veterinarians of color, and it formally became a nonprofit in 2020. Since then, it has evolved into an\u00a0 <\/span>organization dedicated to building equity and representation throughout veterinary medicine.<\/span><\/p>\n \u201cVet med is still one of the whitest professions in the country,\u201d said certified veterinary technician and MCVMA executive director Melody Martinez. \u201cDepending on the stats, 90% to 97% of veterinarians are white, and support staff isn\u2019t far behind. We exist to change that.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n Celebrating the idea that all voices matter, members include veterinarians, veterinary technicians, assistants, educators and other animal professionals.<\/span><\/p>\n \u201cI was the first technician on the board,\u201d Martinez said. \u201cI became president, and now there\u2019s another technician on the executive team. That matters. We\u2019re not just talking about inclusion; we\u2019re living it.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n MCVMA\u2019s flagship initiative is RISE, a RACE-approved CE conference showcasing the expertise and perspectives of Black, Indigenous and people of color veterinary professionals.<\/span><\/p>\n Anyone can join, including white allies who understand that veterinary medicine cannot provide comprehensive care to all communities without representation in the clinic.<\/span><\/p>\n \u201cWe want people to know there\u2019s space for them here,\u201d Martinez said. \u201cWhether you\u2019re a student, a kennel assistant, a DVM or a shelter worker, it doesn\u2019t matter. Your voice matters.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n The group\u2019s past, current and upcoming initiatives are extensive. They include:<\/span><\/p>\n \u201cWe\u2019re not just trying to get more people into the field,\u201d Martinez said. \u201cWe\u2019re trying to change the culture so that when people get here, they stay and thrive.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n 5. Veterinarians International (VI)<\/span><\/strong><\/p>\n Veterinarians International is a global nonprofit with projects ranging from caring for orphaned elephants in Sri Lanka to funding rabies vaccination campaigns in Kenya to addressing poor living conditions in marine parks and zoos. Chief veterinarian Dr. Jenna Wallace didn\u2019t set out to create an international advocacy organization, but her work in the captivity industry made her a natural fit.<\/span><\/p>\n Dr. Wallace\u2019s advocacy extends well beyond getting the Miami Seaquarium evicted. She also became a point of contact for other animal caregivers to report abuse or substandard care. That effort evolved into Care for Captivity, a program that serves as a confidential resource for zookeepers, marine mammal trainers and veterinarians.<\/span><\/p>\n While Care for Captivity is one of VI\u2019s more visible projects, the organization\u2019s impact reaches well beyond U.S. borders. In Sri Lanka, VI assists Elephant Transit Home, a rehabilitation program for orphaned calves, with medical supplies and donated equipment, such as X-ray machines.<\/span><\/p>\n In Kenya, VI supports mobile veterinary care. \u201cWe\u2019ve donated motorbikes that allow the veterinarians there to become more mobile,\u201d Dr. Wallace said. \u201cThey visited 60 different communities last year and were able to provide treatment or vaccinations to about 46,000 animals.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n Dr. Wallace has collaborated with high-profile figures in global conservation, including Paul Watson of Sea Shepherd France, orca researcher Ingrid Visser, wildlife conservationist Jane Goodall and oceanographer Jean-Michel Cousteau. <\/span><\/p>\n In addition to spending time on VI\u2019s international efforts, Dr. Wallace owns a Hawaii veterinary practice. She provided free, around-the-clock veterinary care over the first few days following the 2023 Maui wildfires.<\/span><\/p>\n While VI began with a clinical mission, it has expanded to support ethical reform and advocacy. Although thrust into the position of whistleblower, Dr. Wallace doesn\u2019t take an extremist stance against animals in captivity. Instead, she said, she only wants to ensure adequate facilities and care.<\/span><\/p>\n 6. Humane Veterinary Medical Alliance (HumaneVMA)<\/span><\/strong><\/p>\n The Humane Veterinary Medical Alliance was founded in 2008 as the veterinary division of the Humane Society of the United States (now Humane World for Animals). Since then, HumaneVMA has grown into a community of 8,500 members, including veterinarians, veterinary technicians and students passionate about animal welfare.<\/p>\n Program director Dr. Barbara Hodges has been with the organization since the beginning. Her journey began in veterinary school at UC Davis, where she and about a dozen classmates opposed conducting terminal surgeries on healthy animals during surgery training. <\/span><\/p>\n \u201cI didn\u2019t want to intentionally kill an animal for my training,\u201d she said.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n The students proposed performing surgical techniques on animals euthanized for legitimate medical reasons. Their persistence helped spark a move<\/span>ment. The next year, incoming students petitioned and ultimately persuaded <\/span>UC Davis to eliminate terminal surgeries from the core curriculum.<\/span><\/p>\n That early experience shaped Dr. Hodges\u2019 lifelong commitment to animal welfare. When the Association of Veterinarians for Animal Rights merged with the Humane Society of the United States in 2008, she joined the newly formed veterinary division and eventually became an employee. <\/span><\/p>\n HumaneVMA\u2019s mission centers on advocacy, education and service. <\/span><\/p>\n \u201cWe\u2019re not a trade association,\u201d Dr. Hodges said. \u201cWe prioritize the animals. We\u2019re a home for colleagues who care deeply about them.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n The efforts have led to legislative victories, including California\u2019s Farm Animal Confinement Initiative. The measure, passed by voters in 2018, established minimum space requirements for egg-laying hens, pregnant pigs and calves raised for veal, effectively banning restrictive cages and crates.<\/span><\/p>\n \u201cThe success has positively impacted the health and welfare of millions of animals raised to become food products,\u201d Dr. Hodges said. \u201cProposition 12 provides a legislative template for similar animal welfare efforts and advances in other states.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n HumaneVMA also supports access-<\/span>to-care initiatives, including veterinarian <\/span>and technician student loan forgive<\/span>ness, license reciprocity across states, an expanded scope of practice for technicians, responsible use of telemedicine, and the adoption of a spectrum of care approach in practice.<\/span><\/p>\n The organization\u2019s education program offers more than 40 archived webinars covering welfare topics such as declawing, brachycephalic breed concerns and other issues not always addressed in veterinary school or continuing education. <\/span><\/p>\n Through its speakers bureau, HumaneVMA provides guest lectures at veterinary schools.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n \u201cWe can influence the future of the profession,\u201d Dr. Hodges said about the organization\u2019s education efforts. \u201cThese future veterinarians are going to be our colleagues in a few short years.\u201d <\/span><\/p>\n Through its parent organization, Humane World for Animals, HumaneVMA connects veterinary professionals with programs that bring veterinary care to underserved communities. For example, Rural Area Veterinary Services provides free basic care to pets on Native American land.<\/span><\/p>\n \u201cIt\u2019s a win-win,\u201d Dr. Hodges said. \u201cVeterinary professionals learn how to practice medicine in a completely scaled-down but high-quality way, and communities get access to care that\u2019s desperately needed.\u201d <\/span><\/p>\n She invites veterinary professionals to join HumaneVMA. <\/span><\/p>\n \u201cVeterinarians and veterinary technicians have such a powerful voice when it comes to advocating for animals, and we need to use that voice,\u201d she said.<\/p>\n Mental Health and Well-Being<\/b><\/span><\/p>\n Sustainability and One Health<\/b><\/span><\/p>\n Farm Animal Welfare and Agriculture Policy<\/b><\/span><\/p>\nThe Power of Veterinary Advocacy<\/span><\/h3>\n
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\nFIND YOUR CALLING<\/b><\/span><\/h3>\n
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