OKLAHOMA CITY -- There's a new Oklahoma law that's has horse owners and trainer simply outraged! An equine dentist was arrested recently because a new law, not only jeopardizes his career, but also his freedom.
"He's the one that sent me to school," says Mauri Langenberg.
Langenberg introduces "Chromed Cadillac;" a favorite horse of hers' that she took to a veterinarian because it had severe pain in its mouth.
Langenberg says, "I went to two (vets) and one supposedly had all this education in equine dentistry; and the results weren't there. So I decided I had to go learn about it."
Langenberg learned how to be an equine dentist at a school in Texas. She now knows how to file down their sharp teeth to alleviate pain and jaw pressure.
But, because she's not a licensed veterinarian, a new Oklahoma state law would consider that practice a felony.
In fact, last week, Bobby Griswold became the first equine dentist to be arrested for practicing veterinary medicine without a license.
Langenberg says, "He's a nice man. A decent person and he does good work."
State representative Brian Renegar says. "It's the welfare of the animals that we're most concerned with."
Representative Renegar, who authored the new law, is a licensed vet and equine dentist.
He says non-veterinarians can't identify infections as well as vets, nor are they properly trained to sedate the horses.
"They don't have the ability to know what to do if that horse has a reaction to that drug," says, Rep. Renegar.
But, Mauri Langenberg says equine dentists like Griswold are just filling a void. "There is not enough of them (vets) to provide the service."
Representative Renegar says a state agency asked him to author the bill because they were tired of equine dentists getting only misdemeanor fines.
Griswold left the Oklahoma County jail after posting a $500 bond the day after he was arrested.
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Copyright 2009 KFOR-TV-DT. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
"He's the one that sent me to school," says Mauri Langenberg.
Langenberg introduces "Chromed Cadillac;" a favorite horse of hers' that she took to a veterinarian because it had severe pain in its mouth.
Langenberg says, "I went to two (vets) and one supposedly had all this education in equine dentistry; and the results weren't there. So I decided I had to go learn about it."
Langenberg learned how to be an equine dentist at a school in Texas. She now knows how to file down their sharp teeth to alleviate pain and jaw pressure.
But, because she's not a licensed veterinarian, a new Oklahoma state law would consider that practice a felony.
In fact, last week, Bobby Griswold became the first equine dentist to be arrested for practicing veterinary medicine without a license.
Langenberg says, "He's a nice man. A decent person and he does good work."
State representative Brian Renegar says. "It's the welfare of the animals that we're most concerned with."
Representative Renegar, who authored the new law, is a licensed vet and equine dentist.
He says non-veterinarians can't identify infections as well as vets, nor are they properly trained to sedate the horses.
"They don't have the ability to know what to do if that horse has a reaction to that drug," says, Rep. Renegar.
But, Mauri Langenberg says equine dentists like Griswold are just filling a void. "There is not enough of them (vets) to provide the service."
Representative Renegar says a state agency asked him to author the bill because they were tired of equine dentists getting only misdemeanor fines.
Griswold left the Oklahoma County jail after posting a $500 bond the day after he was arrested.
Contact KFOR News directly by clicking here if you would like to submit a news story tip or suggestion.
Copyright 2009 KFOR-TV-DT. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
