Wes McKinley

DENVER – The Governor signed a bill into law today to expand treatment options for livestock owners and caretakers. The legislation, sponsored by State Representative Wes McKinley (D-Walsh), is known as The Animal Massage Therapy Exemption Act.

The new legislation allows trained technicians to use soft tissue therapy on animals without the direct supervision of a veterinarian. Previously, the state required a vet’s presence, making deep-tissue therapy a cost-prohibitive treatment option for many ranchers and caretakers. This gives ranchers an effective pain management alternative to expensive pain medication.

“I am happy that now it is legal to have your horse massaged without paying a veterinarian to watch.”

Representative McKinley is a ranch owner and farmer from Southeastern Colorado, who knows first-hand the importance of giving livestock owners as many treatment possibilities for their animals as possible.

The bill goes into effect July 1, 2008.