This week's guest is Vicki Diesner, Executive Director of Ohio Animal Advocates. She joins Dr. G to discuss legislation currently being considered at the Ohio Statehouse that could improve the wellbeing of companion animals and those who care about them.

On this episode we discuss:

- Ban on cat declawing for cosmetic or convenience reasons

- Ban on non-veterinarians performing surgical procedures, such as tail docking, ear cropping and dewclaw removal

- Improving access to wellness care through increased registered veterinary technician utilization

Learn about what each policy seeks to achieve, who is opposing the legislations, and what you can do to support these common sense laws that aim to improve the welfare of our companion animals.

The 2026 Animal ForensiCon in Orlando, Florida

When we think of hunting crimes, our first thought may be illegal hunting. In this case however, the hunters were the victims of a long-running scam. Dr. Eileen Roy-Zokan from University of Florida takes us through an investigation that started with a citizen concern and developed into a puzzle that would be solved through DNA and multi-agency collaboration.

This case brings together many of the presentations in the conference, and is a great example of the importance of events like this that aim to teach new concepts and encourage networking.

The 2026 Animal ForensiCon in Orlando, Florida

Dr. Laurie Millward from the Ohio State University describes clinical pathology and its uses in assisting in cases of animal neglect and cruelty.