SB 318/HB 643 would expand the eligibility for the Janet L. Hoffman Loan Assistance Repayment Program to include individuals who received a degree from an accredited veterinary school and provided veterinary services for in the State for no less than 5 years or provided volunteer veterinary services at animal shelters, and individuals who provided veterinary technician services for a certain time period or provided volunteer veterinary technician services at animal shelters.
The lack of staff veterinarians and volunteer veterinarians providing support to shelters places fiscal pressure on local government. Increasingly, pet owners are relying on shelters and rescues to help with veterinary services such as vaccinations and spay/neuter to more complicated diagnostics and care. Shelters strive to provide these services but must prioritize the most urgent veterinary services for the animals in their care. Without adequate staffing or volunteer practitioners, shelters struggle to adequately meet the needs of the community. When pets get surrendered, the shelter must pay for daily care and feeding for that animal until a new home can be found. Shelters are stretched beyond their limits as they end up paying private veterinary rates for procedures needed for surrendered animals and shelter animals.
Expanding this program would incentivize veterinarians to work in Maryland and help ease the veterinary shortage that is a nationwide problem, especially for people with pets living in underserved areas. It would provide fiscal relief for local government as their shelters and rescues would have veterinarians in-house as opposed to outsourcing to get veterinary care for their animals at a higher expense – or having to accept surrendered animals because their owners could not receive veterinary care for their animals.
It’s time to include the veterinarians who care for our beloved pets in the Janet L. Hoffman Loan Assistance Repayment Program!
SUPPORT: Higher Education – Janet L. Hoffman Loan Assistance Repayment Program – Eligibility – SB 318/ HB 643.
Please contact your legislators and tell them that you SUPPORT SB 318/ HB 643
Thank you again for being an advocate for Maryland’s animals. Remember, Maryland Votes for Animals, Inc. can only succeed with the help of animal advocates like you. Please consider making a donation to Maryland Votes for Animals at voteanimals.org/donate now, so we can continue fighting for Maryland animals.
With compassion,
Maryland Votes for Animals, Inc.