Veterinarians

Founded in 1888, the CMVA is a network of veterinary professionals, and represents the nation’s largest veterinary medical association. Boasting more than 6,300 members, the organization seeks to promote professionalism within the veterinary community, along with leadership, fiscal responsibility, and animal advocacy.

As a condition for licensure, applicants and those seeking renewal must submit their fingerprints to be run through a nationwide database in order to check one’s criminal background. In addition, applicants and license holders must disclose any and all criminal convictions, excluding traffic citations that do not involve alcohol, drugs, controlled substances or animals. Failure to fully disclose one’s criminal background is grounds for denial of licensure, denial of renewal, or revocation.

Under Health and Safety Code §§122125-12222, also known as the “Pet Protection Act,” anyone found to be a “dealer of dogs and cats” can be fined thousands of dollars for failing to comply with the Act’s requirements as to conditions, reporting requirements, and minimum standards that must be upheld. Dealers, those who buy and sell more than 50 dogs or cats per year, can also be punished under California Penal Code §597, which provides for up to $20,000 in fines, along with one year in jail for those convicted of animal cruelty.