Crystal Heath DVM

Los Angeles–based shelter veterinarian and the executive director of Our Honor, a nonprofit organization of veterinary professionals advocating for systemic reform in protein production, veterinary effectiveness, and public health.

Over 4,000 subscribers

Crystal Heath DVM

Crystal Heath DVM

@crystalheathdvm

Los Angeles–based shelter and farmed animal protection veterinarian, the executive director of Our Honor, a nonprofit veterinary advocacy organization promoting systemic reform in protein production, veterinary effectiveness, and public health.

Your reminder that the NPPC and Chuck Grassley support pork producers, not Americans.

Only a fringe group of veterinarians believes that keeping pregnant pigs in 2' x 7' stalls where they can't turn around is something that should be protected.

Even the AVMA's new sow housing guidelines say that sow housing and management should “All…

If I worked at a dairy or poultry farm with an H5N1 outbreak

I would certainly be strongly disincentivized to report it, considering one consequence would be having ICE show up and send everyone to detention or deport them. Given what has happened to Angela Perryman, I think at this point anyone should worry about the risk H5N1 presents to their civil rights as well as their health and food security.

Dr. Angela Rasmussen

Ridglan Farms is officially shutting down.

A lot of focus has been on beagles, but as we move away from dogs in research, what about other species?

On May 15th, High Quality Research in Fort Collins shut down thanks to the work of many individuals and groups.

These are some of the cats released to Kindness Ranch after that facility closed.…

Speaking at Shared Worlds: Concepts, Conflicts, and Connections in Human-Animal Studies

Hosted by the Arihanta Institute.

My talk is:

Beyond Cage-Free: Why Egg-Free Corporate Campaigns Offer a More Effective Path Forward

Cage-free campaigns are often celebrated as a major victory. But is it? Or are we simply enriching corporations …

The AVMA Is Using Veterinary Authority to Keep Pigs in Gestation Crates

The so-called “Save Our Bacon” Act is NOT currently included in the base text of the Farm Bill. But this battle is not over.

The language could still be added back in as an amendment, which means now is the time to call your Senators. Iowa Senator Chuck Grassley said, “It’s got to be in the farm bill or it won’t get done. It’s pretty simple…

"Demonizing lab workers will not liberate animals"

Madeline Krasno was an animal caretaker at the University of Wisconsin-Madison’s Harlow Primate Laboratory from 2011 to 2013, which resulted in a PTSD diagnosis and moral injury. Today, she is the Executive Director of Justify, a 501c3 building a worker-led movement that supports animal …

Most people have never met an animal who survived a laboratory.

At the AVA Summit, author Melanie D.G. Kaplan, who wrote Lab Dog, spoke about Hammy, the dog who spent ten years by her side as she reported the book.

Veterinary students are graduating without enough surgical experience.

A 2018 study found that by the end of clinical year:

• 63% had never performed an unassisted canine spay • 54% had never performed an unassisted feline spay • 44% had never performed an unassisted canine neuter • Confidence was lowest for canine spay: 5/10

Meanwhile, …

From Dr. Elena T Contreras on the closure and release of animals from Red Beast aka High Quality Research in Fort Collins:

One of the most important lessons I learned from my experiences at HQR is that “IACUC approved” should never automatically be interpreted as synonymous with “good animal welfare.” All of the procedures and housing conditions I observed existed within systems that had institutional approval and regulatory oversight. Yet many of the animals experienced chronic fear, distress, pain, inadequate behavioral opportunities, and poor quality of life. Regulatory compliance and committee approval are not the same thing as ethical nor good welfare. At best, they establish minimum requirements. Meaningful welfare assessment requires looking critically at the actual lived experiences of the animals themselves - including fear, agency, social needs, behavioral expression, housing quality, handling practices, and cumulative lifetime experiences - not simply whether a protocol received approval.