This is a pet peeve among veterinarians.

• Author: Murray, Arthur O.
• Position: Tar Heeltattler - Licences to veterinarians

The N.C. Veterinary Medical Board is cracking down. With the aid of its own pet detective, the board by mid-June had charged 13 people with practicing without a license, including a Wilmington chiropractor accused of treating a Rottweiler with hip dysplasia.

The board was seven-for-seven in getting convictions. But not everybody believes it's acting merely out of puppy love. Rosie Harper, found guilty in June, says the board--six of eight members are veterinarians--is mainly protecting vets from competition, not pets from cruelty. "One of my charges was because I cleaned out a dog's ear with soap and water and used an ear-mite treatment that was available commercially."

She runs a screen-printing shop in Jacksonville and breeds poodles, Chihuahuas, bloodhounds, basset hounds and Pomeranians as a sideline. "A lot of people understand that if a dog is sick and they have no money, I'll treat the dog."

Thomas Mickey, the board's executive director, estimates the state has at least 100 bogus vets to go with about 2,150 real ones. The board used to send warning letters to unlicensed vets it got complaints about. Those were ignored, so...