Post by Aussienot on May 15, 2004 18:21:29 GMT -5
By Alex Mitchell
State Political Editor
Veterinarian Tom Lonsdale, a maverick in the world of dog care, has paid the price for promotion his unorthodox views on canine diets and criticising his professional colleagues.
He has been drummed out of the Australian Veterinary Association after a bitter debate over his book Raw Meaty Bones, which argues that dogs should not be fed on manufactured food.
His central claim is that pet owners who give their dogs exclusive meals of processed food are inadvertently causing them ill health. After his best selling book was published in 2001. Dr Lonsdale sought to have it reviewed in The Veterinarian, a respected professional journal. The request provoked almost two years of e-mail correspondence, but no review ever appeared, and the magazine decidd not to publish an invterview with him. In exasperation, he sent an e-mail in July last year to the Veterinary Surgeons Board of NSW and state Members of Parliment under the heading "Excuses and Falsehoods".
Dr Lonsdale yesterday condemned the AVA's action against him. "I have been denigrated. This is an attempt to discredit and silence me. I would like the decision overturned, but that is very difficult to achieve" he said. "It will be hugely expensive and time-consuming for me to try to restore the balance. I just hope other vets will speak out".
In State Parliament last week, Paul Lynch, Labor MP for Liverpool, told MPS, the e-mail had found its way to the AVA, prompting an investigation into Dr Lonsdale's professional conduct. He said the offending e-mail included the statement "Any right thinking person knows that the slow poisoning of the nations dogs by junk food maufacturers, aided by veterinarians, is against the interest of pets, pet owners and the wider community."
Dr Lonsdale said the AVA had financial ties to pet food companies. In March, after a Complaints Committee hearing, the AVA cancelled Dr Lonsdale's membership on the grounds that his actions were calculated to bring the association into disrepute.
Picture caption : Tom Lonsdale's book Raw Meaty Bones says dogs and cats aren't designed to eat prepared foods. Tearing and chewing are important for health. Making animals' teeth jaws and digestive systems work as nature intended can reduce visits to the vet, he says.
The Sun-Herald May 16 2004
State Political Editor
Veterinarian Tom Lonsdale, a maverick in the world of dog care, has paid the price for promotion his unorthodox views on canine diets and criticising his professional colleagues.
He has been drummed out of the Australian Veterinary Association after a bitter debate over his book Raw Meaty Bones, which argues that dogs should not be fed on manufactured food.
His central claim is that pet owners who give their dogs exclusive meals of processed food are inadvertently causing them ill health. After his best selling book was published in 2001. Dr Lonsdale sought to have it reviewed in The Veterinarian, a respected professional journal. The request provoked almost two years of e-mail correspondence, but no review ever appeared, and the magazine decidd not to publish an invterview with him. In exasperation, he sent an e-mail in July last year to the Veterinary Surgeons Board of NSW and state Members of Parliment under the heading "Excuses and Falsehoods".
Dr Lonsdale yesterday condemned the AVA's action against him. "I have been denigrated. This is an attempt to discredit and silence me. I would like the decision overturned, but that is very difficult to achieve" he said. "It will be hugely expensive and time-consuming for me to try to restore the balance. I just hope other vets will speak out".
In State Parliament last week, Paul Lynch, Labor MP for Liverpool, told MPS, the e-mail had found its way to the AVA, prompting an investigation into Dr Lonsdale's professional conduct. He said the offending e-mail included the statement "Any right thinking person knows that the slow poisoning of the nations dogs by junk food maufacturers, aided by veterinarians, is against the interest of pets, pet owners and the wider community."
Dr Lonsdale said the AVA had financial ties to pet food companies. In March, after a Complaints Committee hearing, the AVA cancelled Dr Lonsdale's membership on the grounds that his actions were calculated to bring the association into disrepute.
Picture caption : Tom Lonsdale's book Raw Meaty Bones says dogs and cats aren't designed to eat prepared foods. Tearing and chewing are important for health. Making animals' teeth jaws and digestive systems work as nature intended can reduce visits to the vet, he says.
The Sun-Herald May 16 2004