Veterinary board defers proposed facility and manager rules after divided testimony

Michelle Shane, executive director of the Board of Veterinary Examiners, and Dr. John Park, board chair, presented a package of allied animal health and veterinary facility regulations intended to establish minimum standards, require dedicated facility space for certain services and set limits for how many facilities a veterinary manager may oversee.

Board members said the purpose is continuity of care and public safety. Dr. Park and other board members cited complaint investigations that identified compliance deficiencies and said exemptions would remain for public‑health rabies clinics. "We want to ensure that services provided meet basic minimum requirements for care and operation," the board said.

Practicing veterinarians and the Kentucky Veterinary Medical Association supported manager oversight but urged reasonable numeric limits on how many facilities a single manager may supervise. James Beckman (KVMA president) said managers must be able to "ensure drug safety and security" and oversee recordkeeping and aftercare across practices.

Mobile‑clinic operator VIP Petcare warned the proposed rule would force closure of roughly 78 of its 84 clinics (94 percent), reducing access to care in rural areas and for customers who rely on weekend clinics. "Frankly, we'd be forced to cease operations in 94% of our clinics," said Dr. Katrina Fleer, VIP Petcare's medical director, who estimated the organization sees about 7,500 animals annually in Kentucky.

The board noted a review of grievance cases from June 2020 to February 2026 identified 25 cases related to low‑cost providers, including four patient deaths, and recommended stronger oversight in some settings. Given the sharply divergent stakeholder views, the board asked the committee to defer 201 KAR 16767 to allow negotiation and consensus building; the committee accepted the deferral without objection.