On August 28, the Colorado Secretary of State's office confirmed that Initiative 145, sponsored by the group All Pets Deserve Vet Care, has qualified for the November ballot. The initiative garnered 207,182 signatures, well above the 124,238 required for inclusion on the ballot.

Initiative 145 proposes the creation of a new veterinary profession: the Veterinary Professional Associate (VPA). This role would require a master’s degree and registration with the State Board of Veterinary Medicine. VPAs would be permitted to practice veterinary medicine under the supervision of a licensed veterinarian.

If passed, the initiative would task the Board of Veterinary Medicine with setting licensing requirements for VPAs and establishing a credentialing organization to certify these professionals. This credentialing body could mandate that VPA candidates complete a university-approved program and pass an exam to earn their credentials.

Currently, in Colorado, practicing veterinarians must obtain a Doctor of Veterinary Medicine (DVM) degree, which typically requires four years of study following the completion of a four-year bachelor’s degree. Veterinary technicians, on the other hand, are required to earn an associate’s degree.

Dr. Apryl Steele, CEO of the Dumb Friends League, a key supporter of the initiative, cited a severe workforce shortage as the driving force behind the proposal. "There’s long wait times, whether it’s routine or emergency care. Veterinary hospitals aren’t accepting new patients," Steele said. The Dumb Friends League is an animal welfare organization offering shelter, adoptions, and veterinary services.

Initiative 145 has garnered support from several organizations, including the Animal Welfare Association of Colorado, the ASPCA, the Virtual Veterinary Care Association, and the Animal Policy Group.

However, the Colorado Veterinary Medical Association (CVMA) opposes the measure. Dr. Kelly Walsh, president of the CVMA, expressed concerns about the potential risks associated with allowing VPAs to practice veterinary medicine. "The initiative presents dangerous risks by permitting VPAs to practice the full scope of veterinary medicine — including performing surgery — with inadequate, mostly online training," Walsh said. "Surgical procedures, even routine surgeries, are highly complex and require extensive veterinary training and expertise. Allowing inadequately prepared individuals to perform such procedures fundamentally undermines veterinary care and places animal lives in jeopardy."

Initiative 145 is the 14th measure to qualify for the November ballot in Colorado and the seventh citizen-initiated measure to make it onto the ballot. The Colorado State Legislature has also referred five constitutional amendments and two statutes to voters. Two additional citizen initiatives are still awaiting signature verification, with results expected on August 30.