This year, World Veterinary Day is Saturday, April 25. The N.C. Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services collaborated with the N.C. Veterinary Medical Association to show a few of the ways that veterinarians protect North Carolina.
Caring for our state’s animals –
The N.C. Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services employs 30 of the more than 5,000 licensed veterinarians in North Carolina to protect our state’s human and animal populations.
Protecting livestock & the food supply
Meat & Poultry Inspection Division veterinarians ensure our meat is safe. You can find them:
- Performing inspections at red meat slaughter facilities to ensure animal health and welfare, and food safety.
- Testing tissue samples for drug residues, diseases, and antimicrobial resistance.
- Ensuring inspected establishments are complying with regulatory requirements.
Monitoring zoonotic diseases
The Veterinary Diagnostic Laboratory System works with vets across the state to monitor for emerging diseases in farm animals and companion animals, while also watching for animal diseases that can affect humans (zoonotic).
Last fiscal year, these veterinarians:
- performed 7,099 necropsies (animal autopsies) to determine cause of death or illness
- oversaw testing of almost 300,000 avian influenza samples
- tested 8,500+ surgical biopsies and 1,900+ cytology cases in support of clinical veterinarians (and much, much more!)
Supporting animal welfare
The Animal Welfare Section conducted over 2,000 inspections at 950 animal facilities across the state to ensure shelters properly care for animals in their charge. Additionally, the Animal Welfare Section provided $250,954 in reimbursements to counties for spay/neuter surgeries for animals owned by low-income residents.
Emergency & disaster response
Veterinarians are at the forefront of response after a natural disaster or other emergency to care for farm animals and pets. The Veterinary Division is also responsible for timely quarantines of farms with suspected foreign animal diseases to protect surrounding farms and community. They also monitor farms post-infection to ensure proper disposal and disinfection to protect farm workers and future herds or flocks.
Thank you, veterinarians for everything you do, to keep people and pets safe.