Greetings veterinary professionals,
First, please allow us to recognize your continued dedication to animal health during these
unprecedented times. As fellow essential service personnel, we understand the challenges that come
with working through a pandemic and applaud your efforts and commitment to maintaining the
human-animal bond.
Prior to COVID-19, 1-in-4 families were in a position where they could not afford veterinary care. This
unfortunate reality has only worsened. We are reaching out to propose a discussion, and hopefully a
collaboration going forward, regarding ways to provide more access to veterinary care to families in need
in our community. We know that many veterinary service providers have already come up with
innovative ways to help in this arena, and we have new ideas and proven programs as well. Together, we
undoubtedly can do more to help keep pets and people together!
Background:
Animal Welfare is currently undergoing a pivotal change, the likes of which we have never seen. As a
result of the pandemic, Human Animal Support Services (HASS) was born. HASS is an international
coalition of animal welfare leaders and organizations, including our organization, coming together to
transform how animal shelters, animal control agencies, and veterinarians support pets and people in
their communities. The primary goal of HASS is “to keep people and pets together.”
https://www.humananimalsupportservices.org/
Historically, if pet owners could not afford the cost of treatment, the options were either to surrender
their beloved pet to an animal shelter for treatment and rehoming, or economic euthanasia. Neither of
these options are ideal or equitable for the key stakeholders (the pet and their family, the veterinarian,
or the animal shelter). In this new HASS model, shelters will focus on assisting pets without separating
them from their owners.
We understand that the Veterinary Industry is also changing and facing its own set of challenges,
including economic barriers (only worsened by the pandemic), employee shortages, compassion fatigue
and burnout, and the list goes on. According to “Access to Veterinary Care: Barriers, Current Practices
and Public Policy” an estimated 29 million dogs and cats live with families participating in the federal
Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program while millions of other pets live with middle-class families
who are struggling financially. The report recognized that most veterinary service providers view the lack
of care as a genuine problem and feel committed to explore ways to address it.
https://pphe.utk.edu/wp-content/uploads/2020/09/avcc-report.pdf
We appreciate that the vast majority of veterinarians have tried to help by offering payment plans,
recommending affordable treatment options that maintain a reasonable standard of care, discounting
their services, and volunteering at pet care events, among other efforts. “But the question remains: Can
we create veterinary business models that allow independent practice owners to make a reasonable
living, pay their staff a livable wage and provide needed care, and at the same time be affordable to the
average pet owner? Reinventing the veterinary hospital model and delivery model is a must-do.”
https://todaysveterinarybusiness.com/veterinary-profession-growing-issues/
Proposed Collaboration:
We are proposing a partnership whereby veterinarians and shelters work together to share our
commitment, ideas and resources to help keep pets and people together. HASS has identified several
successful community models to provide access to veterinary care, such as the AlignCare OneHealth
model, the Open Door Veterinary Clinic and others that utilize subsidized (shelter-funded) and
moderately-discounted care. We would like to share information about these programs with you and get
your ideas about how to improve access for underserved families. By participating, you will have the
opportunity to increase your client base, help your community by promoting the Human-Animal bond,
help keep more pets in their homes, and help prevent and control zoonotic diseases in your community.
The veterinary profession, in general, has seen a negative shift in the public’s perception of it. Help us
change how people view veterinarians, and the profession, by joining us in this important endeavor.
In closing, this is a complex challenge that can only be overcome through collaboration among all the
stakeholders. Having a non-human family member has many positive physiologic and psychologic
benefits. These family members need care too. We believe that we can create a sustainable, equitable,
and mutually beneficial system that will maintain the human-animal bond, decrease the risks of
compassion fatigue for both veterinary and shelter professionals, and help those 1-in-4 families obtain
the care that their pets so desperately need.
Thank you for taking the time to read this letter. If you are interested in meeting with us to discuss this
important collaboration, please contact (insert contact name/email). We hope to hear from you.
Sincerely,
