The government shutdown is affecting crucial veterinary programs that ensure the welfare of animals and protect the public, according to the American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA).

The AVMA has called upon Congress to reopen the U.S. government so that the nation’s federal employees who promote the health and welfare of animals, guard the country against disease outbreaks and ensure food safety can get back to work.

“Not only is Congress affecting the lives of more than 800,000 federal employees by its lack of action, it is compromising the health and well-being of millions of animals,” says Ron DeHaven, DVM, AVMA’s chief executive officer. “Each day that the U.S. government is shut down, we are faced with a dwindling supply of available vaccines to keep livestock healthy, a lack of inspections that protect animals from abuse, and a dearth of food safety inspections. Our elected officials need to double down on their efforts to come to a bipartisan, bicameral agreement, and put Americans back to work so they can continue protecting the health and welfare of animals and the public.”

Many key veterinary programs have been affected by the government shutdown, including, but not limited to:

“We look to our elected officials in Congress, especially those who are part of the U.S. House Veterinary Medicine Caucus, to exert their leadership and help Congress rise above the partisan bickering to do what is right for both Americans and our nation’s livestock and pets,” DeHaven says.