or those of you that don't speak Texan, that is "Pending
Business." And if you want to learn to speak Texan, I suggest
you sit in the Texas House Ag Committee hearings for a couple of
days. You can hear the chairman call for "pindin' bidness" as
he places his cowboy hat on the table while another starts gnawing
on a big cigar in the back of the room. I have never felt the
spirit of Texas stronger (or had a thicker accent) than in that
moment.
I'm sure you are wondering why I was in this mecca of cow
punching politicians (that means cowboy) soaking up the Lone Star
Spirit while I should be in class learning pathology and
toxicology. I was attending congressional hearings concerning
pindin' equine dentistry legislation, sorry can't help
myself. The practice of equine dentistry has been the source
of major contention for many years. In Oklahoma, the
legislative pendulum has swung drastically and quickly from one
extreme to the next. At the root of the issue are two simple
questions. One, what defines equine dentistry, and two, who
can perform equine dentistry. I could spend a whole blog
going into all the arguments, but frankly, I am tired. I got
back from my second trip to Austin in the past week at 11 last
night after testifying on behalf of Texas A&M veterinary
students only to cram for a toxicology test. (Toxic agent of
Datura anyone? No seriously, I don't remember). I went along
with 11 other students last week to testify in front of the House
Ag Committee, and three more yesterday to testify before the Senate
Ag Committee. We were simply there to provide insight into
the education veterinary students receive on equine dentistry and
to answer any questions concerning our experience. I won't go
into any more details because, like I said, I'm tired.
My sense of exhaustion is not tied to the weight of the debate
on equine dentistry. No, I'm just a second year vet student
doing my best to get through the last 5 weeks of class before my
last glorious summer is upon me. I've had test after
test, and quiz after quiz, and I think it is all just starting to
catch up, but I digress.
I want to spend my time with you this week exploring the impact
veterinarians and veterinary students can have on the world around
us. Veterinarians are always quick to point out that they are
the advocates for the animals. It is our job to promote
animal health and welfare and preserve the highest standards of
care. That usually conjures up images of a white-coated
veterinarian carefully examining a dog or a James Herriot
individual working on a calf out in the open pasture. In this
case, I saw veterinarians and students striving to improve animal
health wearing suits without a single animal in site. No one
at the committee hearings spoke more eloquently on the issue at
hand than the students.
I was concerned before the first hearing that our student voice
wasn't going to matter. We left College Station at 4:30 am
yet we weren't called to testify until after 4 pm. By this
time, the committee had heard hours of testimony from both sides,
and the mood in the room was a little tense. As a student, I
worried that the committee would write-off our testimony or that we
wouldn't have anything new to bring to the table. So I
frantically started re-writing my statement when the committee
started calling students. I was the second in line to speak,
and the chair said "Now, I've noticed that y'all have been
patiently sitting over in the corner all day. I sure do hope
you students are getting some extra credit for being here
today." I replied, "Well, actually sir, we are missing two
tests today, but our Toxicology professor is a big Texas history
buff. We were going to take a picture outside after the
hearing, and maybe he might give us a couple points on the next
test." The seasoned crop duster/chairman fired back, "As soon
as the students are finished, we'll stop the hearing and we will
all get our picture taken!" Whoop!
From that moment on, as each student stood and testified, you
felt the mood in the room change. Then the last student
spoke; he ended his statement by simply asking the committee to
keep the horse's welfare as the top priority when deciding this
issue. All of a sudden there weren't two sides fighting over
an issue. We were now partners trying our best to advocate
and provide the best care for the animals that we love. That
unifying mood carried over into the Senate hearing as both sides
inched oh so close to a compromise. I have no doubt that it
was the students' passion, understanding, and knowledge that
changed the entire climate of the debate.
We, the students, made a huge impact that day. That is the
power of involvement. 12 students stood up that day and made
a difference. (Call it the power of the 12th Man,
Whoop!) As veterinarians it is our duty to advocate for the
animals whether it is in an exam room or in a Senate hearing.
That is what I learned that day, and I even have the picture to
prove it. Next up in pindin' bidness, pathology!
