09/26/06 State vet may seek more resources

Washington Ag September 26, 2006 Washington State veterinarian Doctor Leonard Eldridge is circulating among livestock groups a possible piece of legislation that would give him more resources to enforce the state's animal health laws. Eldridge talked about the proposal at last week's annual meeting of the Cattle Producers of Washington, where he said he gets reports daily of animals coming into the state that don't meet Washington's health requirements. In an interview Eldridge emphasized his proposal doesn't change any animal health requirements. Eldridge: "It is just getting resources and the ability to look and follow up reports that we've got. Of course we've followed some reports we had resources to do and found there are some serious violations." At the CPoW meeting Eldridge mentioned a case of 25-hundred head of cattle that didn't meet state animal health laws. Eldridge: "You figure if you are finding way less than 10% of that that's occurring, that is pretty good odds for somebody that's willing to risk Washington's livestock by ignoring the animal health regulations." Eldridge's proposal would also allow for the imposition of penalties on serious violators. I'm Bob Hoff.