I do not support this because it is a risk to the patients safety. Placing an IV catheter is an invasive procedure and it needs to be done by a licensed individual. The person not only needs to know how to place an IV catheter but also why they are doing it. They need to know why to choose one site over another, what complications can occur, what signs indicate needing to replace a catheter, and how to perform the task with aseptic technique. These are just a few things associated with placing an IV catheter. To allow an assistant to place an IV catheter is the equivalent of letting an average joe walk into a human hospital and place your IV catheter with no formal training. For a profession that is trying to be progressive, this would be a step backwards to me. Instead of trying to find ways to cheaply out source more tasks to be performed by unlicensed people, why not focus efforts on promoting veterinary technology programs. This will allow a greater knowledge base and allow critical thinking to be done on the part of the licensed individual. Which they can help the doctor catch medical mistakes and make medical suggestions that could lead to a diagnosis, as opposed to an unlicensed individual who just does what they are told.