The Missouri Veterinary Medical Board which took Brooke Gray to court over her equine dentistry business, has won a ruling stating that it can and will enforce a state law that forbids non-veterinarians from accepting payment for providing what the Missouri Freedom Center says are basic animal husbandry services.
Floating a Horse's Teeth
Court rules non-veterinarians not allowed to perform horse dental work in Missouri
The judgment allows Brooke Gray, to continue helping Missouri's animal owners, but if she is paid for her efforts, she can be fined and possibly sent to jail.
Brooke Gray has never had a client complain about her work, and several licensed veterinarians in Missouri have been so impressed with her abilities that they refer clients to her and have entrusted their own horses to Gray’s care.
The work that Gray has been engaged in primarily consists of routine floating of teeth which is the filing down of sharp points which is necessary on a routine basis, since a horse's teeth continue to grow throughout its life.
Gray trained at the Academy of Equine Dentistry in Idaho and completed additional internships before opening her business and has had eight years experience.
The Freedom Center of Missouri, which represents Gray, argued that the United States and Missouri Constitutions protect a citizen's right to earn a living providing basic animal husbandry services and say that they will appeal the court's decision.