Veterinary Medicine - October 2007 - (Page 679)

E UTHANASIA Advice from the Veterinary Medicine Then clients can set up appointments with these counselors to further discuss pet selection. And don’t wait for clients to ask you about adopting pets; be proactive. Advertise your preadoption counseling services in the clinic lobby or examination room, and when appropriate, mention that you are available to discuss it. O Pet selection Practitioner Advisory Board Fred L. Metzger Jr., DVM, DABVP (canine and feline practice). Veterinarians can make a huge impact by understanding that the pet selection process is an important area of intervention. Typically, uninformed owners select a new pet based on physical characteristics with no behavioral history or evaluation—a recipe for disaster. When you buy a used car, you can buy a report to check whether the vehicle has a troubled past. So perhaps a pre-pet-purchase behavioral examination can help. I also recommend a local certified trainer who can help pet owners select their new family member. HELPING NONCLIENTS Of course, not all potential owners are clients. So how do you reach these potential owners before they make a decision on which pet to adopt? Dr. Golab suggests setting up an information booth at local festivals or anywhere else people gather. Ask these potential owners the same preadoption questions you ask your clients plus a few more (“Have you had a pet before?”) since you do not have any background information. Although these booths are volunteer situations, she says that once the word gets out that you offer this service, people are likely to make appointments for further discussion and to recommend you to friends who are thinking about adopting a pet. Dr. Golab also suggests volunteering at local shelters. “Shelters have lots of charity events. It makes sense to have a veterinarian there, helping people decide what pets or breeds would be best for them.” In addition, she’d like veterinarians to train shelter workers in preadoption counseling so that good matches are made when veterinarians are not on site. WHAT WORKS FOR Dr. Denise Porte Animal behavior hooked Denise Porte, DVM, as a veterinary student 26 years ago. She started her first Puppy Playschool in 1994. In 2005, she completed a behavior fellowship at the University of California, Davis. Today, in addition to her work as an associate at the Animal Clinic of Santa Maria in Santa Maria, Calif., she owns a behavior consultation practice. Dr. Porte recognizes that involvement in the adoption decision before it happens is critical. She designates veterinary technicians as preadoption counselors and has followed this strategy throughout her practice career. Through continuing education in behavior at veterinary conferences and the information they gain when helping with puppy preschool, these preadoption counselors are empowered to ask questions designed to help people choose companion animals that fit their needs and lifestyles. Here are the questions the counselors routinely ask: • What is your daily schedule? Look for clues to the amount of time owners will have to interact with a new pet. • Do you have time for grooming or are you willing to budget for it? Steer reluctant groomers away from high-maintenance breeds. • Is it important that your pet be social with other pets and people? Determine how much interaction with people and other animals the new pet will have. • Is physical affection from the pet important to you? Folks who want to be affectionately followed around the house may be disappointed in a cat. • Does your budget allow for routine and unexpected healthcare costs? Owners must be aware of and anticipate veterinary bills, so a poor understanding on this issue can be disastrous to both owner and pet. • If your new pet is going to be a dog, do you have the time and patience required to housetrain and teach a puppy basic manners? Reaching people before they adopt remains a challenge in helping make the right match. Dr. Porte presents public seminars for the local humane society titled “Everything you need to know before adopting a dog,” speaks on radio shows, and writes articles for local publications. She has also found that people will share information from her puppy classes with friends and relatives who have not yet adopted. “If you can get to them, you can really open people’s eyes to the responsibility of making the right fit,” she says. “You can set everybody up for success.” CONCLUSION Adopting a pet should be a lifelong commitment. But often people adopt without realizing how big of a commitment they are making or they select a pet based on the wrong criteria— then they relinquish the pet because it doesn’t fit their lifestyles. By taking the time to discuss pet selection with potential owners and helping them make a good pet match, you’ll reduce the risk of relinquishment. O VETERINARY MEDICINE October 2007 679

Table of Contents Feed for the Digital Edition of Veterinary Medicine - October 2007

Veterinary Medicine - October 2007 Contents Leading Off The Veterinary Medicine Interview: Dr. Kevin Fitzgerald Toxicology Brief Idea Exchange Animal Sheltering in the United States: Yesterday, Today, and Tomorrow The Euthanasia Problem Offer Basic Behavior Counseling for Every Pet at Every Visit Promote and Perform Early Spaying and Neutering Assist Owners in Selecting the Best Pets for their Lifestyles Champion Animal Welfare in Your Community CE Form Product Review Advertiser Index Marketplace/Classifieds Mind Over Miller

Veterinary Medicine - October 2007

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