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-2- become a separate major industry. In 1973, an A. C. Neilson survey found that 57.4 • of American families qualified as households with pets. This fact, plus the .small. number of Veterinary colleges, and the limited enrollment capabilities in these schools, have caused a nationwide shortage of Veterinarians, at a time when the need is greatest. The village of Falcon Heights does not have a private small animal hospital. The University college of Veterinary Medicine has a small animal facility, but their hours are limited, waiting lists usually exist for routine services, such as vaccinations, and the Doctor-Client relationship is not as personal as most people desire. As a result, most residents of Falcon Heights must go elsewhere for Veterinary services, such as Roseville or St. Paul. I have discussed my proposal with the Health Board of Falcon Heights. They have recommended in favor of the establishment of this hospital. One item that they • seemed most concerned with was that of waste disposal. I will have only a small area for keeping animals. I will have a floor drain in the kennel area with a pitched cement trough leading to it. In this way, animal waste can be quickly and thoroughly eliminated. I will have no outside kennels. Deceased animals are picked up immediately by a private firm. In fact, far from being a liability, an animal hospital is a Public Health asset to a community. Veterinarians are the first line of defense against zoonotic diseases -- disease transmitted between animals and man. Common examples of zooneses we try to protect against include ringworm, salmonellosis, toxoplasmosis (which can affect fetuses in households with cats) and rabies. Another public health problem which Veterinarians are uniquely qualified to deal with is that of unwanted pets and stray animals. Free roaming stray dogs damage property, spread disease, and are a public nuisance. No one remedy has worked in every community, but pet population control, chemically or surgically, is a service every community should have.