I strongly support this amendment to allow trained but unlicensed assistants to place peripheral IV catheters under the direct supervision of a veterinarian. There is currently a shortage of licensed veterinary technicians. We have some excellent staff members who have been working at our practice for years and who are more than capable of placing peripheral IV catheters. We are a large and busy 24 hour practice. At this time, patients often have to wait for a licensed tech to become available to place their peripheral IV catheters, which delays the patient's treatment.