New Virginia law aims to help animal shelters facing veterinarian shortage

CHARLOTTESVILLE, Va. (WVIR) - Animal shelters across Virginia are dealing with a growing challenge—finding enough veterinarians to care for animals.

At the Charlottesville-Albemarle SPCA, that shortage is something staff say they have experienced firsthand.

“You bring an animal into a shelter, you want them treated right away. But that is not always possible,” said Libby Jones, executive director of the shelter.

Jones says the issue is tied to a broader trend in the field.

“Veterinarians are becoming fewer and fewer,” she said.

Now, a new state law, HB 1287, is designed to help address that gap. The measure directs the Virginia Board of Veterinary Medicine to update its licensing process, allowing veterinarians to indicate whether they are interested in working with animal shelters.

From there, the state will create and share a list of those veterinarians with shelters across Virginia, making it easier to connect organizations with available medical professionals.

The legislation passed unanimously in the General Assembly and is awaiting final action from the governor.

Jones says that kind of system could make a difference, especially during times of transition.

“In September, we lost our veterinarian… finding another veterinarian has become extremely hard… and we are legally mandated as a shelter to have a veterinarian on record,” she said.

Shelters are required by law to have a veterinarian overseeing medical care and protocols. Without one, operations can become more difficult, even as animals continue to arrive and need treatment.

Staff say when a veterinarian leaves, it can take time to find a replacement. In the meantime, shelters must continue caring for every animal in their facility.

That is where the new law could help.

“Being able to have a list of individuals who are willing to step into that capacity helps a lot of shelters kind of bridge that gap,” Jones said.

For shelters, the impact comes down to timing, getting animals treated sooner and ready for adoption faster.

Staff say even small changes like this could help improve access to care and support animals as they wait for their next home.

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