4827.
(a) It is the intent of the Legislature to continue reviewing shelter operations and the adequate oversight of veterinary activities performed by licensed veterinary professionals, shelter employees, and shelter volunteers, including, but not limited to, through the next sunset review process of the Veterinary Medical Board pursuant to subdivision (c) of Section 4800.(b) Nothing in this chapter or regulations adopted pursuant thereto prohibits any person from:
(1) Practicing veterinary medicine as a bona fide owner of one’s own animals. This exemption applies to the following:
(A) The owner’s bona fide employees.
(B) Any person assisting the owner, provided that the practice is performed gratuitously.
(2) Lay testing of poultry by the whole blood agglutination test. For purposes of this section, “poultry” means flocks of avian species maintained for food production, including, but not limited to, chickens, turkeys, and exotic fowl.
(3) Making any determination as to the status of pregnancy, sterility, or infertility upon livestock, equine, or food animals at the time an animal is being inseminated, providing no charge is made for this determination.
(4) Providing necessary and prompt veterinary care to animals lawfully
deposited with or impounded by a shelter. For purposes of this paragraph, “veterinary care” means any of the following:
(A) Administering preventative or prophylactic nonprescription vaccinations to the animal pursuant to protocols written by a veterinarian licensed in this state, for the purposes of preventing the spread of communicable diseases, without the presence of a veterinarian when the person has received proper training in the administration of the nonprescription preventative or prophylactic vaccinations.
(B) Administering nonprescription medications to the animal pursuant to protocols written by a veterinarian licensed in this state, for the control or eradication of apparent or anticipated internal or external parasites, including, but not limited to, fleas, ticks,
or worms, without the presence of a veterinarian when the person has received proper training in the administration of the nonprescription medications for the control or eradication of those internal or external parasites. A person’s decision to administer these medications shall not be construed to mean the person has made a diagnosis of the animal’s medical condition.
(C) Administering medication prescribed by a veterinarian licensed in the state to the animal without the presence of a veterinarian when the shelter has received a written treatment plan from the licensed veterinarian and has a dispensing protocol in place for the tracking of dispensed prescribed medication and when the person has received proper training in the administration of prescription medication.
(D) Changing of bandages or dressings, after examination by a veterinarian licensed in this state, in accordance with the directions of the veterinarian, without the presence of a veterinarian when the shelter has received a written treatment plan from the licensed veterinarian and has a wound care protocol in place for the tracking of care provided and when the person has received proper training in bandaging and bandage care. A person’s decision to change bandages or dressings or to perform similar wound care shall not be construed to mean the person has made a diagnosis of the animal’s medical condition.
(E) Administering sodium pentobarbital for euthanasia of sick, injured, homeless, or surrendered domestic pets or animals without the presence of a veterinarian when the person is an employee of an animal control shelter and its
agencies or humane society and has received proper training in the administration of sodium pentobarbital for these purposes.
(5) Administering first aid without the presence of a veterinarian to an animal lawfully deposited with, or impounded by, a shelter provided that the individual providing the first aid has received proper training. Animals receiving first aid shall be transported to a veterinarian as soon as practically possible for followup care. For purposes of this paragraph, the term “first aid” is defined as any of the following:
(A) Controlling external bleeding with direct pressure or bandaging, for the purpose of stopping the bleeding.
(B) Removing visible foreign objects from an animal’s airway for
the purpose of restoring breathing.
(C) Administering rescue breathing and chest compressions in the event that the animal has no heartbeat.
(D) For the purposes of paragraph (4) and this paragraph, the term “proper training” is defined as completing a training curriculum provided by a veterinarian licensed to practice in this state, and includes, but is not limited to, both of the following:
(i) Four hours of training that include an overview of intake procedures and preventative medicine, recognizing when an animal is required to be seen by a veterinarian, basic first aid and bandage care, prescription and nonprescription medications, humane animal restraint techniques, vaccination injection methods and procedures,
and documentation.
(ii) Two hours of hands-on training in humane animal restraint techniques, vaccination procedures, first aid, and bandage care.
(E) The training shall be provided by a California licensed veterinarian and shall be taken at a minimum every three years.
(F) For the purposes of paragraph (4) and this paragraph, individuals duly registered as a registered veterinary technician, as described in Section 4839, shall be exempt from the proper training requirement.
(c) The exemptions described in paragraphs (4) and (5) apply only to a duly authorized officer, employee, or volunteer of the shelter.
(d) The shelter shall maintain records of the veterinary care described in paragraph (4) in accordance with Section 32003 of the Food and Agricultural Code.
(e) Nothing in paragraph (4) or (5) shall be construed to relieve a duly authorized officer of a shelter from the obligation to convey an injured animal to a veterinarian if required by Section 597.1 of the Penal Code or as otherwise necessary to provide the animal with needed veterinary care that the shelter is unable to perform in accordance with this section.
(f) For the purposes of paragraphs (4) and (5), the term “shelter” means a public animal shelter, shelter operated by a society for the prevention of cruelty to animals, or humane society.
(g)Notwithstanding any law, a premises where any activity described in subdivision (b) is performed shall not, on that basis, be required to register with the board pursuant to Section 4853 or regulations adopted pursuant to this chapter.