AVMA Under Fire: What Happened at the House of Delegates, and What It Means for Your Vote

A delegate challenged a controversial letter on animal welfare and raised bigger questions about how your professional organization represents you.

At the 2026 AVMA Convention, House of Delegates member Dr. Martha Smith-Blackmore took the floor to raise a procedural question that cuts to the heart of professional representation: how did a letter sent in the AVMA's name contradict the organization's own policies on animal welfare?

The letter in question endorsed the Save Our Bacon Act, language that downplayed the scientific basis of Proposition 12 (California's farm animal confinement law). The problem? The AVMA's own Sow Housing Policy, approved by the House just one year earlier, affirmed the scientific evidence behind improved housing standards.

The Contradiction

Dr. Smith-Blackmore pointed out a critical inconsistency in a letter the AVMA sent to the House Committee on Agriculture. That letter, written in opposition to Proposition 12, claimed that California's welfare requirements 'are not scientifically based, and have not been objectively demonstrated to reliably and consistently improve welfare.'

But here's the issue: that statement contradicts the AVMA's own Sow Housing Policy, which recognizes science-based evidence for improved welfare outcomes. It also conflicts with voter-approved protections in Massachusetts and the broader momentum behind farm animal welfare improvements.

Who Actually Represents the Membership?

The real substance of Dr. Smith-Blackmore's challenge wasn't just about animal welfare science. It was about representation. She emphasized that the letter was framed as representing AVMA membership—but it doesn't reflect the will of the membership, which approved the Sow Housing Policy. It represents the organization's leadership.

This distinction matters. When an organization sends a policy letter to Congress in the name of thousands of professionals, those professionals deserve to know that their values and scientific positions are reflected in it. Dr. Smith-Blackmore raised a straightforward question: how did this letter make it through the door?

What Dr. Smith-Blackmore Is Asking For

She called for a public retraction of the erroneous statements in the letter. But more broadly, she highlighted a process failure within the AVMA—one that, if not addressed, could continue to undermine the organization's credibility and the profession's reputation.

Her remarks also emphasized a larger point: the AVMA's influence on animal welfare policy is significant, and members have the power to shape that influence if they engage in the House of Delegates process. If you disagree with how the organization is representing your values, staying a member and showing up in these rooms—just as Dr. Smith-Blackmore did—is how change happens.

The Bigger Picture

This incident raises questions that veterinarians across the profession are grappling with: How well does the AVMA represent diverse voices within the field? When leadership and membership interests diverge, whose values take priority? And how transparent is the process for issuing policy statements on behalf of the entire profession?

These are not questions with easy answers. But they're worth asking—and worth staying engaged with, even if you feel frustrated with your professional organization.

What You Can Do

If you're an AVMA member who cares about animal welfare policy, you have options. Contact your AVMA delegate and let them know where you stand on the organization's position regarding Proposition 12 and farm animal welfare standards. Engage in the delegate nomination and voting process. Show up, speak up, or write, just as Dr. Smith-Blackmore did.

You can also contact your U.S. Senators at 202-224-3121 and urge them not to pass farm bill language that would overturn animal protection laws like Proposition 12.

The AVMA's influence on animal welfare policy is real. So is your power to shape

Source: Dr. Martha Smith-Blackmore, AVMA House of Delegates Statement, 2026 AVMA Convention