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No More Homeless Pets Forum
March 10, 2003 Working With Vets |
How can we get vets to work with us? Dr. Brenda Griffin, assistant professor at Auburn University, talks about where the veterinary community is coming from and how you can work with veterinarians in your community more effectively.
Introduction from Dr. Brenda Griffin:
I believe the simple truth is that enacting real change in our communities regarding the welfare and disposition of homeless pets requires participation from us all.... We all have to work together in positive and effective ways to non-lethally control the pet surplus. I think that veterinarians are uniquely positioned to participate and to take leadership roles in these efforts.Our profession has many roles in this endeavor, including helping to increase adoptions (through direction of shelter medical programs, building strong relations with shelters and the public), increasing sterilization of pets (in shelters and in practice -- don't forget feral cats), and increasing owner retention of pets (through applied behavior counseling and permanent identification, i.e., microchipping).
My work here at the University involves teaching, research, service and outreach... all geared toward non-lethal strategies for pet population control, emphasizing the role of the veterinarian. It is my greatest hope that today's veterinary students, through hands-on experience in our community shelters and with our feral cat program, will become tomorrow's veterinarians who will join us as partners in the fight to end the homeless pet problem.
Questions
Hiring vets to work in s/n clinics run by shelters
How do you get vets to accept feral cats and ear-tip?
Encouraging vets to offer services to rescues
How to approach vet schools for spay/neuter partnerships
What if there is only one vet in town who won't work with you?
How do we get vets to educate their clients on homeless pets?
Positive working relationships with vets without hurting their livelihood
How to get people to show up for spay/neuter appointments
When vet associations try to stop shelters from operating clinics
Should vets be on a Board of Directors for a shelter?
How close are we to an injection that would safely sterilize feral cats?
Getting vets to provide care for special needs and FIV/FeLV animals
Changing recommended rabies vaccine laws
When vets don't want to work with low-income clients
Hiring vets to work in s/n clinics run by shelters
Question from Kathi in MO:
Our local shelter is opening a spay/neuter clinic. The board has considered two primary options for staffing the clinic:Ask local vets to volunteer on a rotating basis. The board is concerned, however, that the vets may not be very dependable since their own practices will be their first priority. Also, scheduling will be difficult, vets have different protocol preferences, and some vets won't do pediatric spay/neuters.
Hire a full-time vet. We're finding it impossible to find a vet who wants to work at the shelter full-time, mostly doing spay/neuter.
The spay/neuter clinic facilities are ready to use. We just need a vet. Any suggestions where we can find one?
Response from Dr. Griffin:
I think the best option is to hire a veterinarian to work in the spay/neuter clinic. Here is some advice on finding and keeping a veterinarian.Offer a competitive salary based on the local job market. Make the employment package attractive (offer a good work schedule, benefits, a continuing education stipend and time off).
Here are some statistics from the American Veterinary Medical Association showing annual salary for veterinarians based on region of the U.S. These numbers are the most recent available, but are from 1999. These figures represent the annual salaries of veterinary associates (not practice owners) employed by exclusively small animal practices.
Mean Median
Northeast $61,073 $56,500
Midwest $51,667 $50,500
South $56,422 $53,500
West $63,822 $56,500
One additional statistic from last year: First-year (new graduate) salaries average $49,000 nationally.
Advertise. You can place a national ad in the Journal of the American Veterinary Medical Association (JAVMA). The vast majority of vets in the US are members of the AVMA and receive this biweekly scientific journal as part of their membership. It has a classified section that is the place to look for job opportunities, if you are a veterinarian. The cost to place an ad is $57 for the first 25 words and then 75 cents for each word after that. Humane organizations are charged the "personal advertising rate" (much cheaper) and not the "commercial advertising rate". (Phone: 913/541-9995, e-mail: mediacom@kc.rr.com).
Other options include advertising with your state and local veterinary medical associations. They usually have newsletters and will take classified advertisements. (If you do not know if there is a local association in your area or how to contact your local or state VMA's, contact the AVMA at 847-925-8070 and they can tell you).
Also, advertise online with the American Association of Shelter Veterinarians by contacting Dr. Julie Dinnage at sheltervet-owner@yahoogroups.com or jdddvm@attbi.com, and post a notice at the nearest College of Veterinary Medicine.
Let the vet be a vet. I think you are correct to think that many veterinarians may not be content to do nothing but spay/neuter surgery all day every day. Not to mention, it can lead to backaches and joint problems for the veterinarian. Besides, variety is the spice of life and we all need to utilize as many of our talents as possible during the course of our work day, in order to feel fulfilled and contented, and not used and abused!
Besides, you will want to take advantage of your new veterinarian's many talents! Veterinarians are uniquely qualified to assist in the development of many programs that are needed for successful shelter management including: husbandry practices, facility design, disinfection protocols, stress reduction, vaccination protocols, disease surveillance and management, behavior evaluation and training, sterilization, and diagnostic and medical support. Furthermore, medical programs are essential to the health and well being of shelter pets. Implementation of such programs enables shelters to:
- Provide appropriate treatment for sick pets entering shelters
- Prevent or limit outbreaks of infectious disease
- Reduce transmission of disease among shelter pets
- Treat existing problem behaviors
- Prevent problem behaviors through environmental enrichment and mental stimulation/training in order to afford pets healthy long term stays
I am sure your shelter has such programs, but your new vet could help fine-tune them and could troubleshoot when there are problems. Well-designed shelter medicine programs improve the physical and behavioral health of shelter pets, making them highly desirable, adoptable companions, which could translate into a higher adoption rate!
Your shelter veterinarian can also be a huge asset in terms of public relations. He/she can help keep an open line of communication with practicing veterinarians in your community, always being available to speak with them about patients who may have recently been adopted. He/she can also assist with public relations in order to raise the profile of shelters as premier sources of pets for adoption and to counsel owners who may be upset if the health of their new pet is in question.
Hire an experienced veterinarian. New graduates lack substantial surgical and medical experience. Rare is the new graduate who can be efficient as a solo veterinarian. They need mentorship from an experienced practitioner and time to gain experience and confidence. Shelter practice tends to be high-volume and demanding. It may be hard for a new graduate to be productive if they are not able to handle medical and surgical situations quickly and decisively. An experienced veterinarian will also be better equipped than a new graduate to assist with PR. Consider hiring a veterinarian with one or more years of experience.
One last word of advice: Communicate with the local veterinarians in your community to let them know what you are doing and why. Explain the goals of your program. Relieve any misconceptions they may have about your programs: practice owners often fear that spay/neuter clinics will affect their business income (after all, they have to make a living). Once they understand that you are not competing with them, they will be very likely to support you. And, we can all use all the support we can get!
Congratulations on your new S/N clinic. I commend you on your plans to hire a veterinarian and truly believe it will be a wonderful thing for your organization and for the animals! Best wishes!
How do you get vets to accept feral cats and ear-tip?
Question from a member:
Many of the vets in our community will not accept feral cats for spay/neuter. They do not want to deal with handling them and believe that ear-tipping is cruel.Response from Dr. Griffin:
The topic of feral cats remains controversial in the veterinary community. In fact, at the annual continuing education convention sponsored by the American Veterinary Medical Association last year, two entire days were devoted to the topic and the presentations stimulated some rather heated debates! Some veterinarians remain opposed to non-lethal management of feral cats, primarily due to concerns about the impact of cats on wildlife species, particularly songbirds. Others view it as a form of abandonment, to release or return a cat to a colony. The American Veterinary Medical Association officially supports the use of TNR to control existing colonies of carefully supervised feral cats provided they are located in safe areas away from wildlife refuges or bird sanctuaries. Their policies and recommendations concerning feral cat management can be found at: www.avma.org/noah/members/policy/polcats.asp.When I talk to other veterinarians, I always acknowledge that it is a complicated issue. In the past decade, substantial debate has surrounded the appropriate response to the presence of feral cats. I state that the traditional approach to controlling feral and stray cats has been extermination by trapping and euthanasia; however, large scale trap-and-kill programs have neither been widely implemented, nor successful. I explain that instead, animal control agencies usually remove cats in response to nuisance complaints, and trap and euthanasia attempts frequently result in public outcry. Clearly, ignoring the problem is not the answer.
Here is some additional information you may find helpful to quote: Over the past decade, "Trap, Neuter, Return" (TNR) has become an increasingly popular method of managing existing colonies of feral cats. Cats are trapped by caretakers, vaccinated, neutered and then returned to their "home" for release. Neutered cats display fewer nuisance behaviors such as spraying and fighting and cannot reproduce. Over time, colony size should decrease due to attrition. Studies have demonstrated that TNR is a successful method of controlling carefully monitored colonies by preventing growth due to reproduction. Ongoing vigilance and record keeping by caretakers are essential for successful control of these populations and to ensure the welfare of the cats. Epidemiologic study of populations of cats in communities across the United States indicates that TNR can be an effective method of control and that when performed on a large scale, the success of such programs is evident at animal shelters where fewer cats are admitted for euthanasia. In addition, TNR has been shown to be more cost effective than trapping and euthanizing feral cats since most states require impoundment and holding prior to euthanasia and since private individuals frequently volunteer to trap cats for sterilization, but not for euthanasia. (Griffin B., Cats, Cats Everywhere. Proceedings of the Auburn University College of Veterinary Medicine Annual Conference, 2001.)
If you can convince just one veterinarian in your community to assist with TNR, that veterinarian may be able to convince others. The argument will be better received from a colleague. Perhaps that veterinarian could approach the president of the local veterinary association about arranging a 1-hour continuing education meeting on feral cats. Most associations have such meetings several times each year and this would be a great way to change or open a few minds.
When you approach veterinarians, be sure to be respectful of their time and their opinion. Make an appointment to see them (do not drop by). Explain the situation. Remove sentiment and stick to the facts. The bottom line is cat control and the welfare of the cats. Take some information with you to leave with them. I am attaching a PDF I wrote that answers questions for veterinarians about feral cats. Please feel free to distribute this.
I would also encourage you to have individuals that feed feral cats ask their veterinarians about assisting with management of the cats. The more they are asked, the less they can avoid the issue. I get calls all the time from vets whose clients are asking them.
Finally, on the subject of ear-tipping this identification process is critically important. Many animal control agencies will release cats that they trap if they have a tipped ear. Otherwise, that cat will likely be impounded and euthanized if it is feral. Given this alternative, I certainly view ear-tipping as humane. Although certainly not painless, the ear does heal quickly after surgery. Be sure your veterinarian understands the magnitude of the cat surplus in your area and that yours is a humane program.
A couple of last comments/thoughts:
I think it is important to recognize that TNR programs alone can not solve the problem of free-roaming cats in the face of continuous emigration from the owned cat population. These programs do, however, hold great merit as a legitimate response to existing colonies of cats with caretakers and raise public awareness of the welfare issue facing cats in this country. TNR programs emphasize to communities that cats require and deserve responsible care, including sterilization, vaccination, identification, and regular feeding, watering and shelter.
Clearly, the bulk of the effort in combating feline overpopulation and feral cats must focus on prevention. First and foremost, responsible cat ownership must be promoted, emphasizing the importance of sterilization, identification, preventative health care, and keeping cats safe at home.
Good luck!! Be professional, but persistent!
Encouraging vets to offer services to rescues
Question from a member:
We have quite a few vets in our area, but it is hard to get their consensus on anything. Very few of them participate in the local vet association. Each vet is different on whether they do early age spay/neuter, feral cats, offer discount pricing to rescues, etc. This makes it difficult because we have to juggle which vet we can go to for which procedure and cost and are constantly trying to keep on top of who offers what. We would like to see all the vets in town do early age spay/neuter and feral cats and work with rescues on some form of subsidized pricing. Is our only option to approach one vet at a time or should we try to get a group meeting together to ask them all at once?Response from Dr. Griffin:
Ahh, yes, it always difficult to get us to agree!! There are always lots of opinions... sigh...I recommend initially contacting each veterinarian individually. Plan ahead to know exactly what you are asking for. All participating veterinarians will be asked to provide services to include. Develop a well-thought out, equitable proposal.
Note: You may not need to reinvent the wheel... odds are, someone else has done a similar proposal and would be willing to share it with you. (For more ideas, I will refer you to my hero, Esther Mechler of SPAY/USA at Alwaysspay@aol.com.
Don't expect services for free, but do expect collaborations that facilitate services and make them affordable. In their position statement, the American Veterinary Medical Association "encourages veterinarians to provide services to humane organizations and animal shelters at a mutually agreeable fee." It goes on to state the following, "Individual veterinarians should decide whether to participate with humane organizations to provide special plans or services such as health examination for adopted pets, surgical neutering, or vaccinations. Such plans and services, when agreed upon, should provide that the attending veterinarian will have freedom of medical judgment regarding the patients needs…"
Encourage pediatric spay/neuter. The AVMA supports early age spay/neuter (puppies and kittens as young as 8 weeks of age). Here are some great resources to have on hand for interested practitioners:
- Video: "The Case for Early Neutering" from the American Humane Association; order by calling 303-792-9900.
- Video: "Early Age Neutering: A Practical Guide for Veterinarians" from UCDavis/AVAR; order by calling 530-759-8106.
- I am always happy to speak with veterinarians about pediatric S/N (and feral cats). They are welcome to call me at Auburn University.
Offer incentives/thanks for the veterinarians to participate. For example, when the pet is adopted, tell the new owner which vet spayed their new dog. Put a plaque in the veterinarian's waiting room--- his/her clients will be pleased to know their veterinarian is helping out.
Know that you will NEVER get 100% of the veterinarians in the community to participate. That's okay. If the program is successful, more and more will offer their services over time.
After approaching each veterinarian individually, invite those that are interested to a dinner to discuss the proposal further. (Vets like to eat, if there is food, they will come).
Tone down the sentiment, stick with the facts, get the job done!! You can do it. And remember: The key to success is good communication. Plan well and follow up! Best wishes!
How to approach vet schools for spay/neuter partnerships
Question from a member:
Since you teach at a vet school, can you give our rescue group advice on approaching our vet school in town to partner with us on surgeries? We would like to rotate in shelter animals and feral cats during surgery quarters and have the school host monthly spay/neuter clinics that students can participate in, but so far, we have not gotten a positive response. Any suggestions on what might convince them that this could be a positive experience for their students and help the community?Response from Dr. Griffin:
Partnering with a vet school is a great idea. Most veterinary colleges teach surgery to students during their junior year. Many colleges (including Auburn) partner with shelters that supply dogs (and sometimes cats) for the junior students' teaching laboratories. Under close supervision by faculty, students learn anesthesia and spay/neuter skills. In addition, they are exposed to the pet surplus and working with shelters. Meanwhile, the shelters get free spay/neuter for some animals. An added bonus is the good PR that comes with such collaboration. The community will love to hear how veterinary students are helping the local shelter by spaying/neutering shelter animals!I would recommend starting with shelter dogs and cats (and not feral cats, for reasons I will explain in a moment). Make an appointment to speak in person with the dean of the veterinary college. Market your plan to the dean. Let him/her know that you will reliably supply healthy animals for their junior surgery labs and that the program will be a source of good PR. Find out how many animals are needed for their teaching program. I am sure the Dean will agree it would be better to have students spaying and neutering shelter pets than laboratory animals. Some colleges provide students with an option: they can learn general surgical techniques by gaining experience spaying/neutering shelter pets or they can learn a variety of surgical procedures by performing surgery on laboratory dogs/cats that will be sacrificed (not allowed to awaken from anesthesia, humanely euthanized after the procedure).
Now, this brings to light a whole other can of worms that you may not have thought of--that is, teaching surgery in veterinary colleges. It is true that some animals are humanely sacrificed for teaching purposes in surgery laboratories. Animal care, however, has improved and animal use has decreased dramatically over the last twenty years. Fewer and fewer animals are used, more models are used, and programs such as the one you propose are helping. Of course, there is still room for improvement, but educators are very sensitive to criticism about this very touchy subject. So, steer clear of engaging in conversations about this. I would caution you not to get caught up in the issue of using live animals for teaching as you approach this program. Remove that sentiment (regardless of your personal views) and concentrate on implementing your program. Your program will likely reduce the number of terminal teaching surgeries, while greatly benefiting the animals, the students, your organization and the animals! Keep your goals in focus.
Now, back to the subject of feral cats. There are some special considerations for performing surgery on ferals, such as the special handling and equipment that is necessary to safely and humanely work with them. In addition, surgery should be performed by experienced veterinarians since these are wild cats and will be returned to their colonies very soon after surgery. These considerations do not lend themselves very well to junior surgery laboratories, unless there is an innovative, dedicated faculty member willing to take on this added responsibility.
I would set my goal on shelter pets for now (they can rest and be monitored at the shelter following surgery). Make your program a success. Earn a reputation for providing great teaching and PR opportunities for the college. Build on this relationship, and then the door for other collaborations (such as monthly S/N clinics or feral cat clinics) may open in the future. One step at the time. Universities always move slowly and cautiously, but it will be worth the wait. The students will love it, and they will help push your program forward - plus they always end up adopting some of the dogs!!! So, you may increase your adoption rate - another bonus!
Good luck.
What if there is only one vet in town who won't work with you?
Question from a member:
We live in a very rural, small county. We only have one vet in the entire county who does not give discounts or work with us. It makes it hard because we can't just go to another vet unless we want to drive a long distance and it seems like she doesn't feel any need to lower prices because it is so hard for us to go elsewhere. We are currently looking into bringing a mobile van into town do help do surgeries and drive animals to the next county over, but are afraid of hurting our relationship with her because we will need her for shots, emergencies, and other procedures. Should we continue to try to work with her?Response from Dr. Griffin:
Wow, I think this is a really tough position to be in! I do have a few thoughts on your situation that may be helpful.First, if she is the only veterinarian in the county, could part of the problem be that she is overworked?? If she sees both large and small animals, and does her own emergencies, and is a solo practitioner, and the only one in the county, I can see how she would not want to add anything more to her plate. She may be really burnt out. It would be nice to have another vet come to the county. The ideal situation would perhaps be if she could hire them half time to help her (give her some relief) and your organization could hire them for the other half of their time to do spay/neuter. I do not know if that would be an option for you or not.
I think you should outline a definite plan of what you need--- what services, how often, how many---for example, you need an average of 30 dogs spayed each month, etc. After you have this as clearly defined on paper as possible, make an appointment to see her. Explain your needs. If she cannot meet them or turns you away, then she cannot be upset if you go elsewhere for services. Keep the lines of communication open. Let her know in a diplomatic way that you are on a mission and will get these things accomplished. If she cannot or will not help, maybe she can offer suggestions to you concerning alternative resources.
Other random thoughts:
One thing you could do to save money would be to administer your own vaccinations (except rabies, of course).
A mobile van, or driving animals to the next county, is also certainly a good option.
Good luck!! Where there is a will, there is a way. Stay determined!
How do we get vets to educate their clients on homeless pets?
Question from a member:
Vets are regarded as a resource by the public, so it makes sense that vets should play a large role in the no more homeless pets movement. I do see some vets that help promote spay/neuter, educate the public about behavioral issues, help adopt animals that are abandoned out of their clinic, and discourage clients bringing in animals for unnecessary euthanasias (had a litter, don't want to spend money treating something very treatable, etc.).But, overall, I think we need to find a way to engage the vets more as our partners in reaching out to the public. Many vets don't have any spay/neuter literature or information in their offices, or information on behavioral problems and behaviorist phone numbers. How can we change this?
Response from Dr. Griffin:
First of all, education must start in the veterinary colleges and, slowly but surely, we are seeing curriculum changes. It is a fact that euthanasia kills more animals than any "disease" studied in veterinary college. Ironically, historically the veterinary curriculum at most colleges has not included the "disease" of euthanasia or non-lethal strategies for pet population control. I am excited to say that is changing. Many colleges are beginning to incorporate these topics into their curricula. To stimulate and expedite such changes, Maddie's Fund is taking a leadership role by offering substantial funding for shelter medicine programs at veterinary colleges. Recognition and research of the human animal bond is also positively impacting the veterinary curriculum at many universities. Increasingly, national and regional continuing education meetings for veterinarians are beginning to include topics related to feral cats, pediatric spay/neuter, the veterinarian's role in pet retention and the human animal bond. So, the future is bright.But, I know there are veterinarians today that do not incorporate spay/neuter counseling or applied behavioral counseling into their daily practice. I do have a few suggestions on how to promote this.
Approach it from the local or statewide level by working with either your local or state veterinary medical associations. (If you do not know if there is a local association in your area or how to contact your local or state VMAs, contact the AVMA at 847-925-8070; they can tell you). Design an educational program and sell it to them. Don't tell them they are not doing their job. Make it a positive publicity campaign and a practice builder for them. It will be hard to say no to a win-win proposition that will not increase their workload (they already talk to clients all day long!).
Approach it in your own community through your organization. Create a web site with terrific information for owners on spay/neuter and behavior, complete with handouts that can be easily downloaded and printed. Send notification of this resource to veterinarians. Address it to the receptionist!! She gets the mail. Put the web site on a refrigerator magnet she can stick it on her filing cabinet and give it out to clients or even print off information for them. Market it as a practice-building tool! Feel free to copy the section below (in blue) and use it as a spay/neuter handout (I developed and use this for my clients.) A source of terrific client handouts on a variety of behavior problems is Lifelearn (I use it). They sell a CD covering over 50 common topics--- the information is written by boarded veterinary behaviorists and is excellent. You can customize it, personalize it, even insert your own logo onto it. The cost is very reasonable. Check out www.lifelearn.com.
Why Spaying/Neutering Is Medically Best For Your Pet
For your FEMALE dog or cat:
Spayed females are often healthier than those who are not spayed.
Intact females may develop such problems as:
- Breast Cancer
- Ovarian or Uterine Cancer
- Uterine Infections
- Vaginal Prolapse
These problems can be life-threatening.
Breast cancer occurs more frequently in dogs and cats than in humans.
Mammary tumors are the most common tumors in female dogs and nearly 50% are malignant. A dog spayed before she has had her first heat cycle has virtually NO RISK of developing breast cancer. Her risk dramatically increases if she is allowed to experience heat cycles.
In cats, mammary tumors are the 3rd most common type of cancer and nearly 90% are malignant. They have usually spread to other parts of the body by the time they are diagnosed. A cat spayed before she is 2 years of age is 7 TIMES LESS likely to develop mammary tumors.
For your MALE dog or cat:
Intact males are at risk to develop serious problems such as:
- Testicular Cancer
- Prostate Disease
- Hernias
- Perianal Tumors
Collaborate with veterinarians. I recently heard about a campaign where vets and shelters partnered in a program to increase adoptions--- called the "Adopt a Pet from your Vet" program. Perhaps, you can add this to your proposal for the vet association. Capitalize on the PR!
Stay positive and imaginative. Think collaboration!
Positive working relationships with vets without hurting their livelihood
Question from Lyla in OR:
My question is when you do have a great vet working with you, how can you keep them happy working with you? What types of things should you avoid to either: 1) burn out the vet too fast; or 2) cause the vet to become resentful because you do things you don't realize hurt him. For example, if you tend to give the special rate for spays, neuters and/or vaccines away to just anyone, instead of solely to strays and feral cats, he could potentially lose business from regular customers. Or, if you routinely give low-cost vouchers to anyone who asks, when they make plenty of money to pay full price, the vet would lose out on regular business and be paid very little instead. Can you list some practices that rescue and TNR groups might get into without realizing how it negatively affects the vet's livelihood or goodwill to your pet welfare organization?Response from Dr. Griffin:
It is great that you are thinking about this. Your thoughtfulness will no doubt pay off! It is nice that your kindness extends to the animals and the people involved.I have some thoughts and ideas for you.
From the practitioner's perspective, I have to say that there is a lot of burn out that goes around out there, and I do not mean associated with working for animal welfare groups, but in practice in general. Being a vet is a tough job. You are expected to know EVERYTHING from surgery to dermatology about EVERY species and that is a tall order. Then, you run from exam room to exam room facing a healthy dose of drama and conflict every day. For instance, the folks you know can easily afford to pay to fix their dog's broken leg won't. The people who want their dog's nails trimmed, even though you are trying to gently explain to them that FiFi is in heart failure and is having difficulty breathing; the phone is ringing; the technician got bitten by a cat; there is a witness euthanasia waiting in the next room (an old cat with cancer you have treated for years---you and her owners are both heart broken, but know it is time); there is a new puppy in the next room that the owners want to breed, though you are doing your best to counsel them about S/N; and on and on every day. Even though you LOVE your patients AND their people, the stress can get the best of you. And then, compared to other fields with 8 years of required education, veterinarians are paid substantially less--- and they sometimes are not even considered "real doctors". It starts to get to most of us at one time or another, and then we are constantly asked to discount our services or to charge nothing at all, and when we refuse, we are called greedy or told that we must not care about animals. So you see how the walls can be built up.
I do know one thing: veterinarians do love animals and they do care. Why else would they spend all that time in school for a job that is not done at 5pm or on weekends, is low-paid compared to many fields, includes the delightful smell of anal sacs, etc.?
My point in saying all this is I think that there is a lot of misunderstanding out there between animal welfare groups and veterinarians. Animal welfare organizations need to know where veterinarians are coming from. Likewise, veterinarians need to know where animal welfare organizations are coming from. I am SO PLEASED you asked your question because it indirectly addresses this.
I think that sometimes veterinarians think animal welfare organizations do not understand the cost of running a practice, they always want services for free, that shelter pets are all sick, etc., etc. Meanwhile, animal welfare organizations think that vets do not understand the number of animals they are dealing with, their low budgets, their disease problems, etc.
The solution to this is to get to know one another. Be sure your vet knows the things you are dealing with. Be sure he/she knows you respect and appreciate his/her assistance and willingness to help and that you do not expect services for free, but would like to work out a fair price and a good system that will be easy for everyone (work together).
Be honest; be sincere. Be sure your vets know your organization's animal numbers and your goals. Have a plan and incorporate your veterinarians' ideas into your plan. Ask for their advice and use it! Keep them informed. THANK them (try a bottle of wine at Christmas, a plaque of recognition in their office, or a warm, fuzzy story in the community paper.)
Other Dos and Don'ts:
- Do not overwork your vets
- Do target and subsidize only low-income and unowned animals
- Do be sure the vets understand the animals you subsidize would not be seen otherwise (you are not competing with them)
- Do pay your bills on time
- Do not send them deadbeats who will not pay
- Do not send them angry people
- Be prepared and organized (one example: do not forget to fast animals for surgery)
- Do not take their business by selling items such as Frontline
- Do respect their medical opinion
The key to strong collaborations is mutual understanding and respect and having an open, honest relationship.
I hope this gives you some additional insight. I have no doubt you will be very successful building long-lasting relationships and accomplishing many great things for the animals with your veterinarians!
Best wishes!
P.S. It is a fact that euthanasia kills more animals than any "disease" studied in veterinary college. Ironically, historically the veterinary curriculum at most colleges has not included the "disease" of euthanasia or non-lethal strategies for pet population control. I am excited to say that is changing. Many colleges are beginning to incorporate these topics into their curricula. But, there are many veterinarians out there who truly do not know the magnitude of the pet surplus. Don't tell them they do not understand, but show them your numbers and they will see and I do think they will help. Schedule appointments with them to discuss these things and keep them informed.
How to get people to show up for spay/neuter appointments
Question from Claudine:
I am the director of a non-profit organization that is not a shelter, but rather focuses on education and spaying and neutering. We used to do a voucher program, and now we have just switched to offering a 1-day per week low-cost spay and neuter program. We are using a clinic that belongs to a local no-kill shelter because they do not have a full-time vet. We have only had two days of the clinic so far, and both days we only altered 23 animals due to no-shows. I have two questions:How can we eliminate or at least decrease the number of no-shows each week (we do call to confirm the day before).
If we wanted to go to 4 or 5 days per week (just spaying & neutering), how much should we expect to pay a vet for this position?
Response Dr. Griffin:
You are really trying to stump me, aren't you?! I wonder why they are not showing up?? Calling them to remind them is very important. Be sure the person making your reminder calls is very firm. Let them know that it is a great thing they are doing to schedule the appointment, but also let them know that they MUST show up, otherwise, they are taking an opportunity for surgery away from another animal and driving the cost of your program up.Other ideas:
You could set a policy that if they do not show up, they will have to leave a deposit in order to schedule another appointment.
Make them pay in advance (or leave a deposit).
Offer some sort of incentive if they arrive on time and as scheduled. It costs $5 less or something like that.
There is a bigger danger in booking multiple pets from the same owner on the same day if they do not show up, that could be 3 spots lost (for example), instead of just one. You might consider a deposit system at least for people bringing multiple pets on the same day or only allow one pet per owner per day.
There are certainly pros and cons to all of these ideas. Hopefully, your system is just new and will run more smoothly in time. You could call other S/N clinics and see if they can offer any advice.
In terms of salaries for full-time veterinarians: Here are some statistics form the American Veterinary Medical Association showing annual salary for veterinarians based on region of the U.S. These numbers are the most recent available, but are from 1999. These figures represent the annual salaries of veterinary associates (not practice owners) employed by exclusively small animal practices.
Mean Median
Northeast $61,073-$56,500
Midwest $51,667-$50,500
South $56,422-$53,500
West $63,822-$56,500
One additional statistic from last year: First-year (new graduate) salaries average $49,000 nationally.
Hiring relief veterinarians and paying them an hourly wage is also an option. You would have to negotiate an hourly wage. The going-rate varies among regions, and is sometimes more when the veterinarian does nothing but surgery around here. Relief vets make approximately $35/hour for general practice (everything is cheaper is the Southeast).
I sincerely hope this information is helpful and gives you a few ideas. Congratulations and good luck with your program, and whatever you do, forge full-steam ahead!
When vet associations try to stop shelters from operating clinics
Question from a member:
I have heard of cases where vets and vet associations try to block humane groups from operating mobile vans or spay/neuter clinics by getting laws passed that only vets can own a van or clinic, by making it difficult for vets hired from out of state to become certified to practice in the state, or by refusing to work with groups that operate a clinic or van. How can we work to change their minds and realize that we are not trying to take away all of their business, but trying to stop the huge numbers of unwanted births and animals dying at shelters? Often these vans and clinics come about because the vets in the community cannot handle the volume of surgeries and these are surgeries that would not be done otherwise (ferals, strays, low-income).Response Dr. Griffin:
To answer this, I am going to repeat some advice I have given previously in other responses.First, consider these 2 things:
It is a fact that euthanasia kills more animals than any "disease" studied in veterinary college. Ironically, historically the veterinary curriculum at most colleges has not included the "disease" of euthanasia or non-lethal strategies for pet population control. I am excited to say that is changing. Many colleges are beginning to incorporate these topics into their curricula. But, there are many veterinarians out there that truly do not know the magnitude of the pet surplus. Don't tell them they do not understand, but show them your numbers and they will see and I do think they will help.
I think that sometimes veterinarians think animal welfare organizations do not understand the cost of running a practice, that they always want services for free, that shelter pets are all sick, etc., etc. Meanwhile, animal welfare organizations think the vets do not understand the number of animals they are dealing with, their low budgets, their disease problems, etc. The solution to this is to get to know one another. Be sure your vet knows the things you are dealing with. Be sure he/she knows you respect and appreciate his/her assistance and willingness to help that you do not expect services for free, but would like to work out a fair price and a good system that will be easy for everyone (work together). Be honest; be sincere. Be sure they know your organization's animal numbers and your goals. Have a plan. Incorporate your veterinarians' ideas into your plan. Ask for their advice and use it! Keep them informed. And, THANK them!!
Then, with these things in mind, approach your specific situation from the statewide level by working with your state veterinary medical association. (If you do not know how to contact your state VMA's, contact the AVMA at 847-925-8070 and they can tell you). Arrange to meet with the president and give him/her a personal, thoughtful (unemotional, stick-to-the-facts) presentation. Explain where you are coming from, and tell them the statistics in your state (numbers impounded, numbers euthanized, etc). Explain your goals, and be sure they understand you will not be competing with them and that you respect their practices.
Focus on how you will target and subsidize only low-income and unowned animals (feral cats and shelter pets). Be sure the veterinarians understand that the animals you subsidize would not be seen otherwise (you are not competing with them). Ask for advice and build a collaborative relationship that can enact real change. If you are unable to go statewide, start locally at first. The AVMA can give you information on local VMA's in your area. Or, write letters (the AVMA can give you address labels for all vets in your state).
Good luck. We need to get past the misunderstandings and work together. You won't convince 100%, but I truly believe you can convince the majority!!
Go for it!
Should vets be on a Board of Directors for a shelter?
Question from a member:
What is your opinion on having a veterinarian on the Board of Directors of a shelter? Do you think it is helpful because they can provide expertise on sheltering issues and act as a liaison with other vets? Or, do you think it is detrimental, because then you are tied into that one vet's opinion and clinic and it could actually hurt communication and partnerships with other vets?Response from Dr. Griffin:
Board members should be individuals who possess skills, knowledge, or experience (or money) that will positively contribute to the organization. For example, for shelters, I would strive to have board members who can offer public relations skills or who have political contacts; who possess accounting/fundraising skills; who are marketing specialists; legal advisors, etc. Certainly, a veterinarian would be an asset to the board of directors of an animal shelter. Their skills and knowledge would be useful in many, many aspects of shelter management and direction.When selecting a veterinarian to invite to be a board member, you need to choose an individual who is well established in your community and who is highly regarded and well liked by his/her peers. Ideally, it should be a veterinarian who is active in the local veterinary medical association. Depending on the size of your board and the number of veterinarians in your community, it may be advantageous to invite more than one veterinarian to join you.
It is important to remember that the veterinarian is being asked to serve as a board member, NOT as the shelter veterinarian. You need to keep an open line of communication with all of the veterinarians in your community. A veterinarian who is a board member may be able to serve as a liaison. Your veterinary board member will be a good resource, but do not overwork him/her. He/she should not be your sole source of veterinary advice. Remember: they should serve in the capacity of a Board member. And, finally, remember that just like any Board member, theirs is only one opinion. No one is right all the time!
Good Luck!
P.S. We have 3 veterinarians on the board of our local shelter. I do a lot of medical work for our county shelter myself, and I have never once been invited to be on the Board. The Director always informs me when a new Board member joins, and says he did not ask me because he so greatly appreciates the work I do for them in my current capacity and does not want to overburden me or take away from my current role. I am flattered and pleased. The shelter does a lot to thank me for my work. I do not feel "hurt" not to be invited to be on the Board. I know it is best for the organization. I tell you this, because you may have a similar situation. One vet cannot be all, do all for your shelter.
How close are we to an injection that would safely sterilize feral cats?
Question from Barbara:
How close are we to an injection that would safely sterilize feral cats?Response from Dr. Griffin:
To answer this, I would first like to provide you with some general and background information about non-surgical methods of sterilization. The following article (which I authored) was included in the Proceedings of the Spay/USA Southern Regional Leadership Conference, 2002.Non-Surgical Methods of Sterilization for Pet Population Control
For over 30 years, researchers have been studying methods to control reproduction. Tremendous advances have been made in recent years with many successes in the human and wildlife fields. During this time, a few scientists have been working to apply these technologies to dogs and cats. Recently, an effort was made to bring these scientists together for the purpose of encouraging collaboration and sharing of ideas, methods and strategies in order to expedite the development of contraceptive drugs and vaccines specifically for cats and dogs. To this end, the Alliance for Contraception in Cats and Dogs (ACCD) was formed in August 2000.
The first goal of the Alliance was to sponsor an international meeting to facilitate interaction of interested individuals and to encourage exchange of ideas and research results. The First International Symposium on Non-Surgical Contraceptive Methods for Pet Population Control was held in April 2002 in Pine Mountain, Georgia. Approximately 100 persons representing 11 countries were in attendance. Speakers presented the latest data and information on new contraceptive drugs and vaccines currently under development, and discussed FDA regulation of companion animal contraceptive products, and the role of the pharmaceutical industry in development and commercialization of such products. Keynote speakers addressed the dynamics and demographics of animal population control.
Contraceptive drugs and vaccines work by exerting a targeted pharmacological effect or prompting an immune response that inhibits or blocks some component of the animal's reproductive system, resulting in infertility. These products will greatly facilitate sterilization of dogs and cats since they will not require the commitments of technical expertise, equipment and time that surgical sterilization requires. The ideal contraceptive product would rapidly induce permanent sterilization, eliminate breeding behavior as well as fertility, provide the same health benefits as surgical sterilization, while requiring only a single dose. Furthermore, the ideal product would be effective in dogs and cats of both sexes and all ages, and be safe and easy to administer. At this time, no single product is able to fulfill all of these criteria, however several promising products are under development. Even if the ideal formulation cannot be produced, safe products that induce sterility in dogs or cats, male or female, will be valuable tools in the fight against pet overpopulation.
Thorough investigation of products is time-consuming and expensive and requires substantial investment not only from the scientists, but also from pharmaceutical companies and investors. The exciting news is that products are realistically expected to be available within the next decade, with at least one product to be released in 2003. Data and information on contraceptive products currently under development will be shared during this lecture. For more information, visit the ACCD web site at www.vetmed.vt.edu/accd.
Non-surgical methods of sterilization will be safe, effective alternatives to surgical sterilization that can be used to increase the number of dogs and cats sterilized. It is of paramount importance that these products be accepted by veterinarians and by the public in order for them to have a far-reaching impact. The scientists, pharmaceutical companies and funding agencies behind these products are to be applauded.
Now, when will we have a product for feral cats??
A zinc compound has been shown to be very safe and effective for chemical castration of puppies when injected intra-testicularly. This is pending final approval by the FDA. I hope to be using this in the shelters I work with this year!
For feral cats, there are a number of products that are currently under development. Realistically, I think injectable contraceptives or sterilants will be available for cats within the next decade. For more information about these products, check out the proceedings of the 2002 ACCD Symposium, as well as summaries of each session, which will be available on the ACCD web site later this month.
I am hopeful that the success of the zinc compound will be terrific, and that this will pave the way for the development of other products. The cost of product development is very high, and pharmaceutical companies must be willing to make substantial investments to this end.
Unfortunately, the present economic climate encourages commercial investment only in products that fit the category of a "sure thing", with the promise of high returns on investment. The unknowns about contraceptive products for pets are (1) uncertain acceptance by the veterinary profession, (2) skepticism fueled by past failures of contraceptive products which resulted in long term, serious health problems, (3) relatively low profit margins, (4) lack of a track record to predict FDA regulatory requirements, and (5) lack of experience with "therapeutic" rather than "prophylactic" (infectious disease prevention) vaccines. Collectively, these uncertainties disqualify most contraceptive products as "sure things".
These considerations are sobering for those energized and enthused by the possibility that most of the technical hurdles can be overcome and one or more successful contraceptive products are tantalizing close to reality. However, none of these considerations are disqualifying or fatal. They are simply obstacles that must be recognized.
Animal welfare organizations can help by supporting all non-surgical contraceptive products that are released. I truly believe they will be incredible tools that can be used worldwide to humanely curb the pet surplus. Can you imagine, an injection and the animals are sterile?? It still gives me goosebumps to think about how wonderful that could be...
Once again, we need to COLLABORATE to make these products a reality.
Getting vets to provide care for special needs and FIV/FeLV animals
Question from a member:
We've had trouble finding a vet in our area who will work with dogs that may nip or bite, or cats with FIV or FeLV (the vets think we should put these animals down). We have a sanctuary and have a lot of animals with special needs. We're able to work with the local vets for other animals (spay/neuter, exams, dental work, infections, etc.), but we disagree on what to do with some of these special needs guys. We want to maintain our relationships with these vets, and also need veterinary care for ALL of our residents. Do you have any recommendations?Response from Dr. Griffin:
Wow, those are some major issues to consider. This will be a very long question to answer, but I am glad you asked it.I am going to address the issue of biting dogs first. This is a public health issue as well as a liability issue. In some cases, if the dog is chronically fearful and fear aggressive or defensive aggressive, this is also a welfare issue for the dog. No dog should live with chronic fear and/or anxiety. So, three considerations here:
Public health
Liability
Welfare of the dog
I am going to provide you with some information on each of these considerations.
Public health:
The following is from: Hunthausen W. Effects of aggressive behavior on canine welfare. JAVMA, 210: 8, 1134-1139 and from www.avma.org.
Dog bites represent a very serious health problem in the U.S. with millions of bites occurring annually. Of these, 0.5-1 million bites per year are serious enough to require medical attention. Most victims are children less than 12 years of age. Dog bite injuries result in an average of 18 deaths/year in the U.S. Most fatalities are in very young or very old victims. The consequences of a dog's bite is devastating not only for the person who is bitten, but also for the individual dog and for the dog population as a whole (can lead to "dangerous dog laws", breed specific bans, etc.)
Additional information on dog bites and their prevention is available at www.avma.org (search dog bite).
Liability:
The following is from the Auburn University, College of Veterinary Medicine, Shelter Medicine Program, 2003.
Liability is an issue that should be taken very seriously by any shelter, rescue organization or individual that is considered the "owner" or "caretaker" of an aggressive animal. Liability does not necessarily end when ownership is transferred to another individual or agency by any method, be it sale, gift or adoption. Unless you are able to ensure the new owner completely understands the risks involved with owning an aggressive animal and they agree to take appropriate precautions at all times, you should not consider selling, giving away or adopting this animal. Furthermore, even if there is a complete understanding of the problem and all necessary precautions are adhered to at all times, this is no guarantee that there will not be a harmful incident which you and your entire organization, include the board of directors could be held liable for.
The following excerpt is taken from the University of Georgia, College of Veterinary Medicine, Animal Behavior Service treatment consent form:
"I understand that aggression by animals can cause injury, including fatal injury, to other animals, to other people, and to me (the owner). I understand that treatment for aggressive behavior is an inexact science, and it is impossible to insure that my pet will not cause harm in the future.
I understand that the only way to insure that my pet will not cause harm in the future is to euthanize it. I understand that if I do not euthanize my pet, it will be my responsibility to take appropriate precautions to prevent my pet's causing harm. These precautions may include, but are not limited to, informing persons near my pet of its proclivity for aggressive behavior, keeping it on a leash, muzzled or with a head collar, and/or keeping it restrained behind doors, gates, or fencing. I also understand that it is my responsibility to be aware of and to comply with all state and local ordinances concerning aggressive animals. Finally, I understand that, should I choose not to euthanize my pet and it causes harm in the future, I may be held liable for such harm."
Welfare of the dog:
First, here is Maddie's Fund's categorizations/definitions of shelter animals:
Adoptable ("Healthy"): Adoptable ("healthy") animals are those animals eight weeks of age or older that, at or subsequent to the time the animal is impounded or otherwise taken into possession, have manifested no sign of a behavioral or temperamental defect that could pose a health or safety risk or otherwise make the animal unsuitable for placement as a pet, and have manifested no sign of disease, injury, or congenital or hereditary condition that adversely affects the health of the animal or that is likely to adversely affect the animals health in the future.
Special Note:
These dogs and cats may be older. They may be deaf, blind, scarred, disfigured, or disabled. They don't have to win a beauty contest. And, it doesn't matter how long they may spend in a shelter or how many others are the same age, color, size or type. As long as they are healthy, friendly pets, they're "adoptable" ("healthy").
Treatable: A treatable animal is any animal that is not adoptable ("healthy") but that could become adoptable ("healthy") with reasonable efforts.
Special Note:
Sick, injured, traumatized, underage, and unsocialized, these animals need appropriate medical treatment, behavior modification, and/or infant housing and care before they can be placed in new, loving homes.
Non-rehabilitatable: Non-rehabilitatable animals are neither adoptable ("healthy") nor treatable. They include 1) cats and dogs for whom euthanasia is the most humane alternative due to disease, injury or suffering that can't be alleviated; 2) vicious cats and dogs, the placement of whom would constitute a danger to the public; and 3) cats and dogs who pose a public health hazard.
According to Maddie's Fund, a no-kill agency must save the life of every healthy and treatable animal it takes into its care. Non-rehabilitatable animals are humanely euthanized by no-kill shelters.
The following is from the Auburn University, College of Veterinary Medicine, Shelter Medicine Program, 2003.
The animals' health and well being, both mentally and physically, should be considered at all times on a case-by-case basis. Medical programs designed to prevent, limit, recognize and treat infectious diseases must be implemented. Long-term confinement can result in tremendous behavioral stress and the development of problem behaviors, including depression, activity withdrawal, stereotypic activity (pawing, pacing) and aggression. Environmental enrichment and adequate physical exercise should be provided to reduce the incidence of stress and problem behaviors. Animals that become overly stressed in the shelter environment and do not adjust or make significant improvement within a reasonable time period need to be relieved of their stress. This can be achieved through immediate placement in a permanent, loving home or placement in an understanding foster home that is willing to work with the animal. If neither of these options is available, euthanasia should be considered to alleviate further suffering by the animals and potential risk to the shelter staff and to the general public, especially in animals exhibiting defensive, fear or redirected aggression. Animals that are suffering physically and emotionally (behaviorally) must not be held indefinitely in long-term confinement as this jeopardizes both their short-term and long-term welfare.
In conclusion, the issue of biting dogs is a serious and difficult one. I am not suggesting that every dog that looks at you funny, growls or nips should be euthanized, but neither am I suggesting that these behaviors be ignored. I suggest that you consider public health, liability and the welfare of the dog in each case where you have a dog with a questionable temperament. You may want to seek out a behaviorist or trainer and certainly your veterinarian's opinion as well. Be careful. Be advised that dogs (and cats for that matter) are potentially dangerous and can cause serious or even fatal injury to other animals, people and even to your organization. Your organization should have a temperament testing program.
Now for the issue of cats with FeLV and FIV:
Different veterinarians are going to have different opinions as you have seen. Again, I truly believe that decisions should be made on a case-by-case basis and that the most important consideration is the welfare of the animal, the cat's quality of life. The veterinary oath states that it is a veterinarian's duty to relieve animal suffering. For sick FeLV or FIV positive cats, euthanasia is often the appropriate and the kindest course of action.
That being said, consider these 3 things:
Confirming test results
Inactive infection ("healthy" FeLV or FIV positive cats)
Active infection ("sick" FeLV or FIV positive cats)
Confirming test results:
The American Association of Feline Practitioners recommends testing all cats for FeLV and FIV and confirming positive test results. Because the tests used to screen for these diseases are highly sensitive, false positives do occasionally occur. Negative test results, on the other hand, are VERY reliable (false negatives should not occur---it would be very bad if they did!).
Certainly, before any irreversible decision concerning the care of a positive cat, positive test results should be confirmed (particularly if the cat is showing no signs of disease!). For FeLV, this is usually done with an IFA test. For FIV, this is usually done with a Western blot test. These tests are sent out to laboratories and are relatively expensive.
Inactive infection ("healthy" FeLV or FIV positive cats):
Here is my opinion: As long as they are healthy and happy, I am happy! Certainly, my greatest hope is that they each have a loving home. If they are kept in long term-confinement in a shelter, the environment must be enriched. It must meet all of their behavioral needs which include:
- social companionship
- the ability to create different functional areas in their living environment for elimination, resting and eating
- the ability to regulate their body temperature by changing location within their environment
- to utilize vertical space by climbing or jumping to an elevated perch
- consistent routines or daily patterns of care, including consistent daily periods of light and darkness
- the ability to find a hiding place
- the ability to sleep without being disturbed
- to be free of chronic harassment (from children or other pets or environmental stressors)
- mental stimulation
- the ability to play at will
- the ability to scratch
Rather than have a set rule, I believe animals are individuals whose needs and adaptive responses vary; therefore, I recommend objectively evaluating each on a case by case basis. If they are not doing well (are not "happy") in the environment, I question how humane it is to keep them there. Cats who are "happy" exhibit normal behaviors (grooming, resting, playing, scratching, etc. They do not hide all the time, they do not hiss and defend and cower, etc.)
Finally, precautions must be taken to prevent transmission of these viruses to non-infected cats.
Active infection ("sick" FeLV or FIV positive cats):
FeLV and FIV positive cats may get upper respiratory infections or other problems similar to FeLV/FIV negative cats--and they may recover with appropriate supportive care just like negative cats. In these instances, it makes sense to treat them.
There are also many horrible, terminal conditions associated with FeLV and FIV including cancers, immune suppression, neurological disease, liver failure, severe anemia, bone marrow failure and many, many others. I always recommend euthanasia of homeless cats with these conditions because of the grave prognosis. If the pet is owned, I offer treatment (if possible) to "keep the cat comfortable" and allow the owner a little more time with the cat prior to euthanasia.
One last thought--you know Paul Berry tells a story about 'what people do if they see a cat in a ditch':
Some people would do EVERYTHING to save that one cat-- spend a $1000, anything
Some people would go save that cat and would look in ditches everywhere they went and would save every cat they found in a ditch anywhere
Still other people would think, 'Gee, cats should NOT be in ditches', and they would go out and try to design and implement a plan to keep a cat from ending up in a ditch again.
Who's right?? All three are right. And this is the very essence of the no-kill movement. In order to have no more homeless pets, we need all three of these.
Sometimes, "big picture" people get frustrated with folks who try to save every animal and that may be what you are experiencing from your vets. They may be thinking they could neuter 50 cats for what you spend on 5 special needs cats.
I can honestly say at one time in my career, I shared that frustration (I am a big picture person, although I also do a lot of rescue as well--have 2 special needs foster puppies and a cat now at home, plus the 8 animals I own), but anyway, the realization that we DO need all three really helped me. You know, what it all boils down to is RESPECT FOR LIFE.
Here is my advice for you:
Have an open and honest, heart-to-heart talk with your vets. Schedule an appointment to do this. Let them know you see the big picture. Tell them the cat in the ditch story (do not be too evangelical or self righteous), but do let them know you respect each life and your efforts are also a part of the solution and a part of changing society's way of "disposing" of pets. Do respect their medical judgment. In some cases, maybe you do need to consider euthanasia of biting dogs or sick FeLV/FIV positive cats. Sometimes that is truly the kindest act. Be sure you are keeping them alive for the right reasons.
I hope this helps. Keep up your good work. Always strive to learn more to help the animals. I wish for you and your vets an open mind and an open heart.
Changing recommended rabies vaccine laws
Question from Howyll:
What is the best approach for changing our state law and practice of requiring yearly rabies (and other) vaccinations for all dogs and cats and using the 3-year vaccine routinely for this? From what I've read recently I would judge that it is problematic to be giving the vaccines every year, even more so to give a 3-yr. shots on a yearly basis. But how do people get their states and vets to revise this?Response from Dr. Griffin:
Vaccination recommendations used to be considered a simple part of animal care, but are now considered complex and controversial. The American Veterinary Medical Association Council on Biologic and Therapeutic Agents' has undertaken a comprehensive review of dog and cat vaccination information. For more information on their report, go to www.avma.org/press/picobta_021114.asp. We definitely need more scientific evidence about vaccines in general--what is their duration of immunity, what are the risks, how great are they, do risks outweigh benefits.Here at the Auburn University, College of Veterinary Medicine, Small Animal Clinic, our vaccine recommendations include annual vaccination of dogs using a 3-year product.
There is a lack of definitive scientific evidence to refute this practice. I do believe that the public health threat of rabies is real and should not be taken lightly. This disease is 100% fatal and we certainly still see cases in dogs and cats in this country.
I tried to research it, but was not able to find the answer: are you sure your state law requires that a 3-year product be used? I would think the product type used would be up to the veterinarian. There are both 1-year and 3-year products on the market. For instance, Merial makes an Imrab-1 and an Imrab-3 rabies vaccine. They also make a special product for cats (called PureVax) which contains no adjuvant, is highly effective and is believed to be safer than vaccines that contain adjuvants. (We use this for cats here--rabies vaccination, possibly due to the adjuvant, may be associated with tumor formation in a small number of cats.) Another option would be to have your pet's antibody titer checked in place of vaccination--you could discuss that option with your veterinarian.
The best approach for changes within a state from the public would be to contact the state veterinary association and/or the state public health veterinarian to establish a dialogue. I believe the law is written through the legislature with input from those groups in every state. Changes are not made easily and a single individual will have a difficult time. Arguments for change must be backed up with good scientific evidence and will require time to formulate.
I hope this information is helpful. There is a lot of misinformation and anxiety floating around in general about vaccinations. For more general information about vaccines, go to www.avma.org/communications/brochures/vaccination/vaccination_faq.asp.
When vets don't want to work with low-income clients
Question from a member:
We have a low-cost spay/neuter program that is open to those who cannot afford the surgery. We will even help them scheduling the appointment with the vet, but we are finding that they often don't show up for the appointment or they do but the animals are in very bad health or have not been to a vet before and are not friendly. As a result, the vets are beginning to not want to accept animals from the public from us. They will work with us on our foster animals, but don't want to accept public animals through our program. We know that targeting those people who cannot afford it is crucial to reducing the explosion of puppies and kittens. Any ideas on how we can get vets to continue to work with us (and get people to show up!)Response from Dr. Griffin:
Some organizations that run low cost spay-neuter programs address the issue of missed appointments by requiring the owner to come in and pay a deposit or a portion of the spay/neuter when they make an appointment, even if it is only $5 or $10 dollars. This might also give the receptionist a chance to question the owner about the health of the animal.You could also offer some sort of incentive if they arrive on time and as scheduled. It costs $5 less or something like that. I heard of one program called "Hooters for Neuters". I think they got a coupon from the restaurant Hooters for bringing in their pet to be neutered.
The veterinarians will not like it if they have repeated no-shows for surgery appointments. They lose money, and yes, they are trying to help, but also must make a living. So, that would lead to frustration. There is a bigger danger in booking multiple pets from the same owner on the same day if they do not show up, that could be 3 spots lost (for example), instead of just one. You might consider a deposit system at least for people bringing multiple pets on the same day or only allow one pet per owner per day.
I asked Lynne Fridley for some thoughts on your question. Lynne has had a lot of experience networking with vets on low-income S/N. Here is what she had to say (and I agree):
"If the animal is in poor health, at least it will not be breeding, and it may also give the veterinarian a chance to educate the owner about proper care. I think these issues could be worked out at the clinics by keeping an open dialog and having the veterinarians understand what the program means to the shelters and to the community. I would suggest that the shelters and organizations share information with the doctors about how the program is affecting the impounds at the shelters, especially if the numbers are down because of the spay/neuter program. Also, put this information in the local papers and thank the vets for their help in saving lives. Publicly thanking them will go a long way."
When the animals come in poor condition, it does create an ethical dilemma for the veterinarian who has a certain standard of care and practice in mind. But, not seeing these animals for S/N is not the answer. Talk it out with your veterinarians; let them know you share their frustration, and fine-tune your plan from there. I also recommend asking for input on this from Esther Mechler of SPAY/USA at Alwaysspay@aol.com.
Don't let these bumps in the road stop you!! Talk it through and keep on keeping on!! Best wishes.
