U.S. Rep. Emanuel Cleaver, D-Mo. 5th District, is calling on veterinary schools nationwide to address allegations of systemic abuse impacting students. He told Missourinet that many vet schools are using students as cheap labor.

“We believe that that some of them are being exploited,” he said. “The result is this is, you know, my little way of speaking about it, where I can explain to people is the zombifying of the students.”

In a letter sent to 36 veterinary schools, including the University of Missouri, Cleaver requested details following reports of grueling 100-hour workweeks, inadequate time for meals, and animal patient care suffering as a result.

“Many of them are actually working far longer than 40 hours a week,” he said. “We even have anecdotal information about students losing

See Full Page