My name is Andrei Tarassov, DVM, and this is a deeply personal issue for me and many others in the veterinary community. As veterinarians, we hold ourselves to the highest ethical standards and cherish the camaraderie we share in our profession.

To support one another, we create private online communities where we can openly discuss our struggles, triumphs, and personal challenges. These forums are sanctuaries of trust and empathy, critical for maintaining our mental health. Unfortunately, this trust has been grossly exploited.

Elise Burns, CEO of Evette Staffing, admitted to impersonating a veterinarian to gain unauthorized access to these private groups. For several years, she used the sensitive information shared in these forums to advance her business interests and grew her business to over $35 million a year. This behavior is not only unethical but also a violation of privacy and Texas law, where online impersonation is a criminal offense.

The American Veterinary Medical Association (2018) reports that over 50% of veterinarians experience severe stress, anxiety, and depression, with the profession facing one of the highest suicide rates. Safe spaces like these forums are lifelines. By exploiting them, Elise Burns has jeopardized the well-being of our community.

Here's the article in Dallas Observer: https://www.dallasobserver.com/news/dallas-ceo-catfishes-veterinary-community-with-fake-facebook-profile-21132920

And another article from Veterinary Information Network: https://news.vin.com/default.aspx?pid=210&Id=12390031&useobjecttypeid=10&fromVINNEWSASPX=1&f5=1

We cannot allow such behavior to go unchecked. I urge you to join me in calling on the Texas Attorney General to launch an investigation into Elise Burns’ actions. This misuse of online identity and exploitation of private spaces must be addressed to ensure such violations are never repeated.

By signing this petition, you stand with the veterinary community to protect the sanctity of our private forums, uphold ethical standards, and safeguard the mental health and integrity of our profession.