As a pet parent, I find it disturbing that veterinary students early in their education are permitted to actually "practice" on our pets without authorization.  I understand the need for practical training; however, there must be mandatory experience and training required for each student prior to engaging in any sort of hands-on practicum, even under direct supervision of a licensed veternarian.  As an attorney, I would not have been allowed nor would I have wanted to engage in the practice of law as a first year law student.  That would have been extremely harmful to the clients I was being trained to serve.  In the case of the veterinary student, practicing on a live animal should only occur after extensive and relevant education, with appropriate and direct supervision, and only with complete owner advisement and consent. 

In some instances, an owner may wish to consent to certain care or treatment performed by a student - but it should be the decision of the owner to decide the perameters of that care or treatment.  In particular, the following requirements should be imposed:

1. Require owner consent for students to perform any task which ordinarily requires a license
2. Set enforceable standards about what students are permitted to do at each stage of their education
3. Set enforceable standards for veterinarians to supervise students (remember that 25% of the Virginia practices on the vet school’s current list of approved sites have a vet with a disciplinary history)