Episode 25

full
Published on:

14th Sep 2023

Columbus Humane's Essential Care Center

Episode 25 explores the affordable and accessible veterinary care and social work service provided by Columbus Humane's Essential Care Center. Rachel Finney, CEO, and Dr. Laura Advent, Chief Medical Officer, discuss why the center was created, who their target pet owners are, the services the provide along with pricing structures, and how others can follow this example.

The ability to afford veterinary care for our pets is not only income dependent. And with pet overpopulation in shelters, keeping animals in their homes helps everyone. Put away your judging cap and open up your mind to how we can help people and animals stay together.

Mentioned in this episode:

Keep it Humane Podcast Network

The Animal Welfare Junction is part of the Keep It Humane Podcast Network. Visit keepithumane.com/podcastnetwork to find us and our amazing animal welfare podcast partners.

Transcript
Speaker:

Dr. G: Hi, and welcome to

the Animal Welfare Junction.

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This is your host, Dr.

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G, and our music is written

and produced by Mike Sullivan.

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On a previous podcast, we discussed the

importance of pet friendly housing and

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vet care for individuals experiencing

housing difficulties, as well as those

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in need of assistance due to domestic

violence and life events that can result

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in the inability to care for a pet.

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So today we're talking with our friends

at Columbus Humane about a service

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they're offering to the community

to assist both the individuals

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and pets when there is financial

instability and need for assistance.

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So our guests today are

Rachel Finney and Dr.

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Laura Advent.

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So welcome both to the

Animal Welfare Junction.

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Rachel Finney: Thank you for having us.

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Thank you.

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Dr. G: So to get started, let's

just start sharing your individual

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stories with our listeners.

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How about Rachel, you start us off

with your background and kind of what

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has led you to where you are today.

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Rachel Finney: Sure.

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Um, I went to Indiana university

and studied political science,

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psychology, sociology of business

and nonprofit management and wound

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up going with nonprofit management.

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My entire career has been in

nonprofit organizations and I

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started out working with homeless.

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people and those experiencing

poverty in South Central Indiana.

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I've worked with families whose children

needed organ and tissue transplants

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and ultimately wound up working in

animal welfare way back in:

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So 20 years now, uh, five years

as an executive director at the

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Union County Humane Society started

my career in animal welfare.

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And then I've been with

Columbus Humane for 15.

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Dr. G: And that's where I met you, uh,

like what, like 16, 17 years ago was

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at the Union County Humane Society.

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So it's been, it's been a long journey.

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So, Dr.

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, what can, huh?

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Sorry.

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Go ahead.

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Rachel Finney: Uh, it

has been a long journey.

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Some days are longer than others.

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Dr. G: So, Dr.

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Advent, what can you tell us about

your journey to veterinary medicine

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and kind of what has led you to be

part of the Columbus Humane team?

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Dr. Laura Advent: Yes, so, um, I went to

Ohio State University for my undergrad.

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I did do my master's in

public health there as well.

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And then I went on to vet school

at Ohio State, graduated in:

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Shortly after I took a position in

general practice down in Circleville.

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And that was really eye opening for me

and helped me see a different part of

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veterinary medicine was pretty rural.

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Um, and so the, the patient and clientele

and their needs were very different

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than what you see in the big city.

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Um, I kind of continued to do

some contract work for different

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rural parts of the state.

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And then I ended up at Columbus Humane

in:

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I've been here a little over five years.

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Um, and love it.

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It's been amazing.

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So now we're fully involved in

shelter medicine and then our

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newest venture into access to care.

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Dr. G: I love that you bring up

the importance of affordable and

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accessible care, especially to

rural facilities, because that's the

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majority of what we do in the Rascal

Unit, right, is just bring the care.

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Because we don't think about the not just

the inability of people to afford things,

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but just the access in general, right?

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You can have all the money in the

world, but if the facilities are not

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available, then it doesn't matter.

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So we're here primarily to discuss

this new venture, which is the

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essential care center and kind

of what services are offered.

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What can you tell us about

what the purpose of it is?

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Rachel Finney: So the essential

care center really has 3

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primary areas of programming.

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The 1st is a heavily

subsidized veterinary care.

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So we're providing wellness services

like spay neuter and vaccines

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and parasite prevention testing.

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But we're also offering low cost,

sick and injured care because you

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see, this is a huge area of need

in our metropolitan community.

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Second area of programming

is pet food assistance.

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So we offer pet food and supplies to

families who need some supplemental

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assistance, providing nutritious

food and supplies to their pets.

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And the 3rd area of programming is

actually about workforce development,

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because we really see that a critical

shortage in veterinary support

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staff is a big contributor to.

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for access to care in our community.

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So many practices in our area are

short staffed and aren't able to

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accommodate all of their clients

or the people who are seeking care.

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And if we want to provide more care and

access for our community, the answer is

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not simply opening a clinic that could

serve all of the folks in our community.

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It really is trying to help our

partner veterinary clinics, you

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know, rise to meet that demand.

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We can't do it alone.

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And so our workforce development

program is really about training

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veterinary assistants to hopefully

inspire and connect them with a path

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towards their registered veterinary

technician certifications and licensing.

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Um, so we're really trying to do, uh,

access to care, but, but approach it in

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a way that we're sort of wrapping around

all of the different types of needs.

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It's not one solution.

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That's going to get us

where we need to be.

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And so we tried to be really comprehensive

and bring it all under 1 proof.

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I also have a social worker at the central

care center, um, to try to help connect

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people with those multiple services.

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Dr. G: That's really important because

we are experiencing the veterinary

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shortage, but then staffing shortage,

and there's a lot of problems with

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the, the volume of animals that need

care and the inability of services

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are practices to provide services,

and that increases compassion fatigue.

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It increases the number of people leaving.

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the veterinary business just because

you know you just feel like if you can't

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help what are you doing and you just

go somewhere else and then that just

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increases the the problem so overall

why do you feel that this care center is

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important to the community like what are

you trying to solve I really feel like

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Rachel Finney: there are so many

animals in our community that

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don't just need an advocate.

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You know, we think about

advocating for homeless animals

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and making sure they have a voice.

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A lot of animals in our community have

a voice, they have an advocate, and

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that family just doesn't have access.

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They're already motivated and inspired

to provide great care to their pets.

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They don't need someone to tell them

they should get veterinary care.

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They need access to it and

to be able to afford it.

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So the essential care center is really

just furnishing access to what people

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already want, but don't have the

resources to accomplish on their own.

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They need some help.

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So, you know, providing

low cost veterinary care.

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Is such a critical need in our community.

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They're just particularly

for sick and injured care.

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You know, you can find reduced cost.

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They neuter or vaccinations, especially

if you're willing to wait for it.

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You know, there's there's a backlog and

a high demand, but you really cannot

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find low cost that can injure care.

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And so that was a primary focus

for us in this facility is how do

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we get people access to what they

already want and need and value.

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Dr. G: I visited a place that is primarily

a human service place that provides

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pet care and you guys are more of an

animal place facility that kind of helps

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with the with the people side of it.

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So how can people support your facility?

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Rachel Finney: I think it's so

important to acknowledge that

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people in this equation, right?

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Animal welfare organization.

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Yes, of course we are, but we're

also a human services agency.

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Part of that is that social work component

of course, but it's really acknowledging

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that pets are family and if we want

everyone to be healthy and successful

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and have those relationships built on

respect and resource that we need to be

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able to provide care for the whole family.

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One of my favorite things about the

essential care center's programming

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that hasn't yet launched it will

likely in the new calendar year.

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It's a one health clinic with partners

at the Ohio State University College

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of Nursing as well as College of Social

Work and College of Veterinary Medicine.

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Um, we'll be hosting on site a nurse

practitioner that will be able to

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provide a human healthcare screening

while our team provides that veterinary

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clinic screening for the animals.

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And it's just recognition that if we want

to be healthy, we need to do it together.

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And so finding ways to invite

people into this animal welfare

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organization and really make sure that

we're meeting their needs as well.

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Dr. G: Social work is super important.

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I interviewed Alicia Kennedy, who

is a social hearted veterinarian in

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Australia, and she deals primarily

with elderly patients, but just anybody

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that has financial difficulties.

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And it just shows the importance

of that human animal bond and the

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importance of taking care of the

animal and and the person because if we

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don't take care of the person and the

animal by default is going to suffer.

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Right.

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So, Dr.

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Advent, how do you feel about the

importance of that, of maintaining

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that human animal bond and then with

the fact that you guys mentor students

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Teaching the students that come in

about the importance of helping these

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animals and helping the community

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Dr. Laura Advent: Yeah, I think you know,

obviously it's it's critical kind of

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what Rachel said, a lot of the clientele

we're seeing both at the shelter and over

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at our essential care center are people

who are experiencing a lot of different

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Stressors or traumas or major life events.

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And they are just trying to

do what they can for their

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animal, just like a small step.

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But for them, their animal

may be all they have.

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Um, so we see a lot of people

in really dire strains.

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They're homeless, um,

their house burned down.

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Um, they've lost their job and all

they have is their dog or their cat.

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Um, and they mean everything to them.

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And so, What I can provide for that

client is really good care, but not,

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you know, that's accessible to them.

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That doesn't bankrupt them.

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Um, and they can feel like they're doing

something really good and strengthen

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that bond for them while also showing

some compassion and care for the person

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to, um, you know, a huge part of me in

exposing other veterinarians or students

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or whoever we welcome into our space

is just And You have to care about the

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person with the animal, um, and don't just

think about it and how can I help this

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animal, but how can I help this person?

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Um, so we see a lot of people who

have, you know, a lot of cats and

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it's like, well, you know, are there

other ways in which I can help you?

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Do you need access to food?

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Um, are you a little overwhelmed?

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Do you need access to

spay neuter services?

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Do you need access to maybe

surrendering some of your your

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population, things like that.

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But how do we help the person in

addition to helping the animal?

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That's really critical to success,

not just for that, that human animal

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bond, but for our community as well.

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Dr. G: I graduated a long time ago.

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I graduated in 99.

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And back then there was, uh, kind

of like a wide range of things that

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were made accessible to owners.

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And little by little, we shifted into this

whole mentality of gold standard of care

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in which a lot of students now feel that

if they don't offer everything that they

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are not providing proper care and we need

to kind of take that back and understand

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what actually, you know, meeting people

where they're at is more feasible

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and should be what we're offering.

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How do you help the students understand

that, you know, you don't have to do a

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CT for every patient that comes in with

with an ear infection, how you can provide

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good care to animals without, as you

say, bankrupting the client or making it

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feasible for them to offer the service.

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Dr. Laura Advent: Yeah, I will say it is

a hard mindset to break in some of these

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students because it's all they've been

exposed to for many is, you know, what

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they would do at a university where they

have all of these, you know, fancy tools

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and medical treatments provided to them.

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Um, so it, it, it is sometimes

a hard mindset to break, but

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that's where my shelter background

I think is really helpful.

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Um, I am used to practicing resource

driven care for a large volume of

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animals, and so, um, What I love doing

and I'm really passionate about is

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teaching that to veterinary students,

um, or new graduates about how you

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can be resource conscious and still

provide a really good quality of care.

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And so it's getting them to, to change

the way that they think about things.

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Um, you know, they're just like, Oh, I

want to run blood work, but it's like,

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but why, what are you getting out of that?

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What does that help you with in

terms of treatment or how you're

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going to address this animal?

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Um, Getting them really to think

through what they're doing.

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Why are they're choosing to run a test?

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Why are they're choosing to give a

medication and oftentimes you see the

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light bulbs go off and they're like, yeah,

I actually don't know why I'm running

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that test or why I'm doing that thing.

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And, um, you know, helping them

be like, well, what about this?

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What about this option?

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Um, And so sometimes their, their

default is, Oh, you know, I don't know.

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Let's send it to a specialist.

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And like, well, they're not

going to have money for that.

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So what is, what is plan B?

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How can we provide good care to this

animal and pain and suffering for this

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animal, but also within this person's

financial means, and maybe they don't

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really have anything else other than what

they paid for in, in this appointment.

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Um, I think that is a big reason

why we went with fixed pricing

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for the essential care center.

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Okay.

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Is I wanted the veterinarian to practice

over there to feel like they could provide

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really good quality of care regardless

of the financial situation of the client.

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So with the fixed pricing, you know,

it's, it's one flat fee and that

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gets you access to the veterinarian

that gets you an exam that gets you

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any diagnostics or medical treatment

that the veterinarian feels like is

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essential to providing good quality care.

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Um, I think too often there is a myth

that low cost care is substandard.

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And I don't like that.

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And I don't agree with that.

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And so we're trying to also kind of

bust that myth a little bit and that.

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Just because it's low cost doesn't

mean that it's poor quality care.

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We can still do really high

quality care at a lower price.

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Dr. G: And that's how

also we practice, right?

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We are doing that's what I like to

change from high volume sterilization

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to high quality, high volume

sterilization, because there needs

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to be that understanding that just

because you're able to, uh, take

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advantage of of proper budgeting

and moving money properly, right?

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You can still offer high quality service

at a low cost and explaining this

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to the students is just monumental.

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We have students and we have

had, uh, Associate veterinarians

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that have that mentality of

well, this needs to be referred.

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You know, it has a eye problem It

needs to go to an ophthalmologist.

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It has this and some people don't

understand some students don't understand

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that we are it We are the referral we

are where they came from because perhaps

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they went to uh, Regular veterinarian

that and they paid for an examination

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and they were offered a list of things

and it was too expensive and they are

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going to come into a low cost facility

just because it's the last ditch effort.

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So we have to learn to work with them.

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I like the idea of like, Ohio State

has a spectrum of care and they're

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trying to change that mentality, but

I think it's going to be a long time

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to to get people to change from where.

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From where they've been going to.

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How do you help as far as, when a

person comes in, let's say that even the,

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the cost of what you're offering is not

enough, or they need additional stuff.

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How do you assist with,

with those situations?

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Dr. Laura Advent: So those are some

things that are challenging, right?

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Because our, our clinic, we wish it

could do everything, but it can't.

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So, um, we wish we could do emergency

services or orthopedic surgeries or some

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of these things that people are seeking.

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We just, we just can't.

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Um, and so we're trying to focus on what

we know we can do really well, um, and

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improve access to care, but we acknowledge

that we don't, we can't do everything.

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Um, and so having really good partnerships

within our clinic that we can help

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refer out, um, Is really important

and also just setting expectations

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for that client working through what

are the different options look like?

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How do we get you set up for success?

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You and you and your animal?

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Um, but we know that we aren't going

to be the answer for everybody.

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And so it's just helping that unique

situation and that client and that

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patient, you know, how can we help you?

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And so we never want to say no to somebody

like, Oh, no, we're not the answer.

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We're not going to help you.

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It's like, well, maybe we aren't

the best person to help you, but let

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me find the Let me find how we can

help you or who can help you best.

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Um, we don't want anybody to leave our

facility at either location and feel like

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they weren't helped in some capacity.

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So, um, I won't say I have a straight

answer as to how we help everybody

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with everything, but we try to be

creative and solutions oriented.

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And it's like, okay, well, maybe

I can hook you up here or do

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this, um, put you in connection

with this person or this clinic.

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I know this.

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facility does this at a lower cost.

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Um, so really just trying to be

creative, solutions oriented and

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finding unique ways to say yes to

people, even if we aren't the answer.

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Rachel Finney: I just

want to follow up on that.

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We may not be able to do

the complex procedure that's

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necessary for that individual

patient, but we can do the exam.

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We can do the diagnostics

to give them that diagnosis.

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Right?

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And so the, the very low cost

fixed upfront cost to get that

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information is really helpful.

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So it can, it can diminish some of the

expense of going to another facility.

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So, yeah, we might have to refer it out.

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Maybe we didn't solve that for every.

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Patient, but what we can do at a

low cost is going to help them be

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more successful, at least have the

information about what's next so

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they can make an informed decision.

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Dr. G: And another concept that

is really difficult to talk

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about, but it's like the, when

euthanasia may be the answer, right?

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And I think that social workers can

play a very important part in helping

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with individuals, both with the decision

process, as well as with the acceptance

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and the, and the aftermath that comes

after having to euthanize a pet.

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So how do you see you guys

dealing with those situations?

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Rachel Finney: The social work

component is so important and.

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Helping guide people through

informed and compassionate

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decision making is so critical.

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If you know that your pet is struggling

and you're trying to figure out how

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can you relieve that suffering or set

them up for health with whatever fixed

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resources are there, to have someone

guide you through that decision making

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process and support you through it and

the follow up for it is a really important

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part of the work that we're doing.

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There's this, um, sometimes mindset,

particularly for animal people kind

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of use air quotes there, right?

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It's all about the animal and

what's in the best interest of

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the animal, but it is always about

what's in the best interest of both.

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And we need to have.

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Um, sometimes difficult conversations

about quality of life, not just for

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the animal, but also quality of life

for the person, you know, behavioral

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euthanasia, for example, what people are

trying to manage just to have basic day

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to day interactions with their animal

or out in the community with their pet.

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You know, we need to be a resource

to help guide people through

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those difficult decisions.

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Dr. G: And I like that because

yeah, let's bring the concept

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of behavioral euthanasia.

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I mean, it is a health condition, right?

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It's a mental health condition.

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And we have to think about the fact of the

safety of the owners of the individuals.

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But we also have to think about

the overall well being of that

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animal, you know, an animal that is

aggressive, that is living in fear.

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It's not, it's not well being.

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So we have to make

decisions that are best.

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And that is a place where I think

the combination of the veterinarian.

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And the social worker can help an owner

navigate through that really, really

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difficult decision and make it and

eliminate the guilt out of it, right?

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Because we always feel guilty when we have

to make a decision of euthanasia, but it

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should not be guilty because we are making

a decision that is that is best for them.

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The other concept is the ability to

care because we may be able to see a

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patient and come up with a diagnostic

and come up with a treatment, but we

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have to take into consideration the

human's ability to provide set care.

360

:

Uh, 1 of the examples that I

always bring up is diabetes, right?

361

:

Okay.

362

:

So we diagnosed a cat with diabetes and

okay, here's some insulin 1st, the cost

363

:

of the insulin, but 2nd, the ability

of the individual to to administer it.

364

:

And that's something that Dr.

365

:

Kennedy had discussed about

part of her program is trying

366

:

to figure out ways that we can.

367

:

Help with the ability

for people to offer care.

368

:

So, for instance, providing somebody that

can visit a home to walk an animal or to

369

:

give medications or something like that.

370

:

Do you foresee your program having

kind of like a volunteer service or

371

:

something that helps people administer

the care that their animals may provide?

372

:

Rachel Finney: That would be awesome.

373

:

Uh, you know, we have to start

by walking or maybe crawling

374

:

before walking and running.

375

:

Uh, you know, we have grand visions for

what a central care center could be and

376

:

will be, but we have to get really good

and very efficient at doing what we're

377

:

doing now before we expand services.

378

:

Because the worst thing would to be

trying to offer everything and do

379

:

all of it a little poorly, right.

380

:

Or not be able to follow through.

381

:

And one of the, one of the really key.

382

:

Ways that we can keep things affordable

is to do a high volume of those services.

383

:

And for us to do a high volume of

anything, we have to be really good

384

:

at it and really efficient at it.

385

:

So, um, in terms of helping people in the

home setting, we're having discussions

386

:

with one organization that works with a

homebound population that has a lot of

387

:

pets and they utilize volunteers to help

with transportation and support services.

388

:

For the humans, and we were starting

to have conversations or how could we

389

:

extend that to essential care center

clients who maybe have some challenges

390

:

and either implementing treatments

like you're talking about, or or

391

:

transportations to and from the clinic.

392

:

Is that kind of creative partnerships

that we need to have to be able to, to

393

:

reach as many people and pets as possible.

394

:

So definitely opens a collaboration

of all kinds, but, but being realistic

395

:

about what we can accomplish,

especially as we get started.

396

:

Dr. G: A lot of veterinarians have

that, that issue with when the

397

:

client comes in and cannot afford

things and, uh, the concept of

398

:

referral and that kind of stuff.

399

:

So how can the.

400

:

local practices, like any veterinarians

that are listening to this podcast, how

401

:

can they benefit from you guys facility?

402

:

Dr. Laura Advent: That's a good question.

403

:

You know, I, I think there was

some hesitation for us too, when we

404

:

originally started this, that, that local

practitioners were going to feel like we

405

:

were trying to, to steal their clients or

that we were, you know, offering something

406

:

lower, undercut them in some way.

407

:

And what we really found is just, there's

this enormous need in our community.

408

:

And.

409

:

General practices are

just they're so busy.

410

:

They can't they can't even

address it on their own.

411

:

Right?

412

:

So, um, there are people who are at their

doors and calling their phones constantly

413

:

trying to access care and they're

struggling to see the amount of patients

414

:

that they already have established.

415

:

And so, um, the feedback we've gotten

is, oh, thank you for doing this.

416

:

And thank you for opening this clinic

because you know, they're drowning in

417

:

work and trying to see as many patients

as they can and do what they can, but you

418

:

know, they're, they're struggling to even

get new clients in for weeks or months.

419

:

And so overwhelmingly the

feedback has been, thank you for.

420

:

For opening this clinic and in

trying to help this population.

421

:

Um, you know, kind of the

feedback we can give to local

422

:

practitioners is that we're here.

423

:

We're a resource.

424

:

Um, how can we help them?

425

:

So if they have unique situations

where maybe they have a client who

426

:

has come to them with, um, that needs

a dental or it needs spay neuter

427

:

services, and they can't afford

their, you know, um, What it is there.

428

:

I hope they're open and willing

to be able to refer to us.

429

:

Um, we are part of the community and

all of the general practices in our

430

:

community are also part of the community.

431

:

We want to work together and I think

that's critical that we are partners

432

:

in this and we work together and we

communicate well and we refer to one

433

:

another and acknowledge that, you know,

each practice has its place and it, you

434

:

know, has its thing that it does best.

435

:

Um, and so I hope kind of how we can

help local practices is just that we are

436

:

a resource for their clientele as well.

437

:

Um, and let us help you and

find ways we can help you.

438

:

And then we'll do the same back.

439

:

Right.

440

:

And so the things that we can't help

or treat, you know, refer their way

441

:

to, it's to get them care, but really

being partners in our community.

442

:

Rachel Finney: And 2 other things

I would say we offer to our partner

443

:

clinics, veterinary assistance as

part of our Rachel Ray Foundation

444

:

pathways to careers in animal health.

445

:

Yeah.

446

:

Clinics can participate by

hosting students for their

447

:

90 hour on the job training.

448

:

As part of their curriculum, and then

they have the first opportunity to

449

:

make an offer to that that student.

450

:

So we want our clinics to be

well staffed and it was a huge

451

:

driver for our programming.

452

:

So definitely take advantage

of hosting students posting

453

:

opportunities at your clinics to

the students who are graduating.

454

:

That's an enormous

partnership opportunity.

455

:

The 2nd thing that I would say is.

456

:

If you have a client who has prescription

food for their pet that they cannot

457

:

afford, please check with the essential

care center because we frequently

458

:

get donated prescription diets that

of course we cannot distribute.

459

:

To, um, to clients that don't

have a prescription for it.

460

:

And so we have in our warehouse right

now, you know, hundreds, if not more than

461

:

thousands of pounds of prescription diet.

462

:

So if you have a client who needs a

particular diet and they're struggling

463

:

to afford it, please send them our way.

464

:

And we would love to get

them that food free of cost.

465

:

Dr. G: That is fantastic,

'cause as a veterinarian.

466

:

I mean, I see that right.

467

:

We'll see the cat with the

urinary problems and we tell them

468

:

this is the best diet for you.

469

:

And they're like, well, we, I

can't afford that because I can

470

:

get a 10, 50 pound bag of this.

471

:

Whereas the bag that you're telling

me is 30 dollars for an 8 pound bag.

472

:

So that is a, that is a great

service for, for the community.

473

:

You brought up the dentals, which I think

is such an important service because so

474

:

many animals suffer from horrible dental

disease, and there's not a lot of good

475

:

options, especially if there's not a good.

476

:

a lot of good low cost dental options.

477

:

So in addition to that, it's like

what, what overall are the services

478

:

that the facility can offer?

479

:

Dr. Laura Advent: Sure.

480

:

So from an appointment base wellness

and preventative services for

481

:

both your dog and your cat, um,

our wellness service bundles give

482

:

you all of your core vaccines.

483

:

Um, you get dewormer, you get,

um, for dogs, heartworm tests,

484

:

you get one month of flea and tick

medication and heartworm prevention.

485

:

So really providing all

around comprehensive care

486

:

with that wellness visit.

487

:

Um, we also, with our sick and injured

care, see, you know, what we would

488

:

classify almost as urgent care.

489

:

That's kind of how we want

people to think of us when it

490

:

comes to sick and injured care.

491

:

So, you know, you woke up and your cat is

sneezing and has boogers, or, um, maybe

492

:

your dog is limping all of a sudden,

or it's having, you know, Some vomiting

493

:

and diarrhea and things like that.

494

:

Um, for surgical services, really,

we're focusing on spay and neuter

495

:

and dentals as our big things.

496

:

We're also offering some mass removals.

497

:

Um, in addition, and I think

something really unique that we're

498

:

doing in particular with Mass

removals is, um, histopathology or

499

:

or, um, is included in the price.

500

:

So we see that often where they

can afford maybe to get the mass

501

:

removed, but not actually have the

testing done to find out what it is.

502

:

And that impacts care.

503

:

And so that's included all in the price.

504

:

So, again, really important for us

that if you can get in our building

505

:

and have access to that care, then I

want to give you the best of what I've

506

:

got without you having to pay more.

507

:

Dr. G: I love that because that's

something that we do as well is biopsy.

508

:

histopathology is not an option.

509

:

Because a lot of individuals

think of it as well.

510

:

If it's cancer, I'm not going

to do anything about it.

511

:

Well, that's not the only purpose of it.

512

:

And it doesn't fail that

people will say that.

513

:

But then 3 months later, something

happens and then they wonder what it was.

514

:

Right?

515

:

So there's there's a lot of benefits

to knowing not just I'm not going

516

:

to do anything if it is cancer.

517

:

So what are what are the costs that people

can expect when they come to the facility?

518

:

Rachel Finney: So for our wellness

services for dogs, including that

519

:

heartworm test, it's just 55.

520

:

So they pay that 55 when

they walk in the door.

521

:

And then all of those things happen

afterwards are, you know, wellness bundles

522

:

for cats are there in the 30s and the

50s as well, depending on whether or not

523

:

we're doing viral testing for that cat.

524

:

Um, our sick and injured services

have just two price points, 60 for

525

:

urinary issues, for eye, um, eye

infections, respiratory infections,

526

:

for, um, help me out here, are we

527

:

Dr. Laura Advent: Lameness, exams,

um, and then our upper tier is the 120

528

:

price point, and those are things for

Vomiting and diarrhea and wound care.

529

:

Um, so those are really

our basic price points.

530

:

Um, spay and neuter, um, is

pretty competitive as well.

531

:

Um, not based by weight,

but just, um, dog and cat.

532

:

Um, and then our dentals are,

there's a cleaning price and

533

:

then one with extractions.

534

:

Um, so we wanted to be very cognizant

about with the dentals, um, That you may

535

:

pull one teeth or you may be pulling 10

and again, you don't want to get into a

536

:

situation where somebody can't afford.

537

:

They can maybe get the dental

cleaning, but not afford all

538

:

of the care that's needed.

539

:

So, um, really important for

us to have fixed fixed pricing

540

:

Rachel Finney: there as well.

541

:

Yeah, so what that means is when

you come in and you pay that,

542

:

say, 120 dollars for vomiting and

diarrhea care, it doesn't matter.

543

:

What diagnostics or medications or go

home supplies that animal, um, that animal

544

:

gets as a result of doctor's discretion.

545

:

That price is still the same

and you pay it when you walk in.

546

:

So that's it.

547

:

You just need to figure out

how do I get that 120 for care?

548

:

And then we take it from there.

549

:

Dr. G: Yeah, we have that similar

approach as far as the dentals with the

550

:

extractions, right, we have kind of like a

routine cleaning minor, which is just like

551

:

one or two flop teeth that come right out.

552

:

And then an advance, which is however

many extractions they need, because

553

:

we don't want people to have to pick

and choose which tooth to remove.

554

:

Right, right, right, exactly.

555

:

Yeah, if a tooth is damaged, and it

needs to come out, it needs to come out.

556

:

So it eliminates kind of like that.

557

:

Right.

558

:

that concern, uh, about what is the

expected wait time for people to be

559

:

able to get in for an appointment?

560

:

Rachel Finney: Well, we just had

news, uh, right, rather significant

561

:

media of our official opening.

562

:

And so it's not uncommon for us to

exceed 100 voicemails in just the

563

:

period of time where we're on lunch.

564

:

So we're really inundated right

now because it's a, It's just been

565

:

announced as a service to our community.

566

:

Um, but really sick and injured care

is going to be in the same week.

567

:

And, um, hopefully the next day or two,

surgery is starting to get pretty full.

568

:

Uh, what we're seeing gets scheduled out

and we're, you know, we're learning and

569

:

we're going, this is brand new for us.

570

:

So we've made some schedule changes

and tweaks to try to accommodate more

571

:

people throughout the week for surgery.

572

:

Um, what is our lead time right now?

573

:

Do you think for surgery?

574

:

Dr. Laura Advent: So we're trying to

open the schedule only a month at a

575

:

time because we don't want to get too

far ahead of ourselves and increase the

576

:

risk of people not being able to show

up or forget about their appointment.

577

:

Um, and so we're trying to to

do, you know, we have September

578

:

and that's what's open right now.

579

:

So I would say if people call and they

can't get in within that month, check back

580

:

frequently, because then we'll open up.

581

:

The next month.

582

:

Um, and again, we're just

trying to get our feet wet.

583

:

And so now that we we've got a little bit

going, we know, okay, well, this is we

584

:

can increase here or change this around.

585

:

So we're trying to increase

the amount that we're doing.

586

:

Um, I would say for preventative care

within the month and spay, neuter and

587

:

dental, I would say probably Um, Okay.

588

:

The goal is to get you

in within a month or two.

589

:

Um, as well, because we know that the

longer we delay it, if you're open and

590

:

wanting to do it, the longer we delay it,

the more likely they are not to do it.

591

:

Um, and so we really want to

be able to offer those services

592

:

and get and get animals care.

593

:

So we don't want the

lead time to be too long.

594

:

And that's really important for us.

595

:

Dr. G: How can people get

access to the services like

596

:

what website or phone number?

597

:

Like, how can they get ahold of you guys?

598

:

Rachel Finney: Yeah, Columbushumane.

599

:

org is the best website and you can make

appointments for wellness care right on

600

:

our website and also have access to set

up an appointment for food services.

601

:

So if you need pet food or supplies,

you can schedule that online as well.

602

:

We are considering some walk in hours.

603

:

We haven't implemented them

yet for sick and injured care.

604

:

Um, that requires a phone call to

the essential care center to schedule

605

:

so that we know that we've got you

aligned with the right services.

606

:

Dr. G: A concern that some

people that come to us have is

607

:

that they, they need low cost

resources, but they do not qualify.

608

:

Right, because they're not on financial

assistance, government financial

609

:

assistance, and some people don't

realize that being middle income

610

:

doesn't mean that you have a lot

of extra income, disposable income.

611

:

So, do you guys have income

qualifications for your services?

612

:

Rachel Finney: We do not.

613

:

And it's so important, um, because

when it comes down to it, your

614

:

income really has very little to

do with how much cash you have.

615

:

Uh, you know, there's people who are

overextended or who've experienced

616

:

tragedy or trauma, you know, maybe

they've had personal health crises or

617

:

housing instability, or they are a single

parent with extensive childcare expenses,

618

:

and maybe they You know, could afford

their pet when they got it and they can

619

:

afford basic vaccines and annual care.

620

:

But now the animals limping and they

can't afford the services beyond that.

621

:

So about 40 percent of Americans cannot

afford an unexpected 400 expense.

622

:

That's 40 percent of Americans.

623

:

So that is, that does not mean

people experiencing extreme

624

:

poverty, 40 percent of Americans.

625

:

So, I mean, 400 unexpected, that's

pretty easy to do at a veterinary clinic.

626

:

Yeah.

627

:

So, um, we need to be.

628

:

Flexible and open to

anyone who needs our care.

629

:

So we've been really forward and out

front about saying this is a clinic

630

:

and these are services for people

who cannot afford care elsewhere.

631

:

If you have an established relationship

with a veterinary clinic, we

632

:

want you to maintain that we want

you to go to private clinics.

633

:

We want you to go into all of

those partners in the community.

634

:

If you cannot afford care

there, please come see us.

635

:

There's not an income amount

or, you know, you don't have

636

:

to prove poverty to come in.

637

:

You just simply need to say,

I can't afford care elsewhere.

638

:

Let's, let's get you

the help that you need.

639

:

Anything is.

640

:

Applying for and getting access to

government assistance is not a fast thing.

641

:

So, even if you are someone who qualifies,

it doesn't mean that you are part

642

:

of one of those systems or programs.

643

:

And so, for you to be card carrying

that you have this means you had

644

:

to kind of jump through a lot of

hoops and get through a lot of

645

:

barriers, even to qualify for that.

646

:

And so there are many people in

our community that do not have.

647

:

Access to those government

programs that need them.

648

:

And so what I found is that we would,

as an organization, be spending a lot of

649

:

time, a lot of resources, sort of proving

or verifying people's income when, in

650

:

fact, that process really is a barrier

to people who already qualify for those

651

:

government services to access your care.

652

:

So, you know, what are you really

trying to do and making someone prove

653

:

that they are poor enough to have your.

654

:

Your programs or services, you may weed

out 1 or 2 sort of bargain shoppers

655

:

who have all the resources necessary to

provide care when it comes down to it.

656

:

That sort of.

657

:

Scheming person who's taken advantage

of your services got their cats.

658

:

Diarrhea treated.

659

:

Okay.

660

:

I'm not, you know, if you're going

to work that hard to abuse the

661

:

system so that your pet can get

care, I mean, okay, moving on, right?

662

:

Like, who's next?

663

:

Why would we work so hard and spend

so much time in resource vetting

664

:

people when the reward is that people

are getting care for their pets?

665

:

I don't, it's not worth it to me.

666

:

Dr. G: And I see it as well with people

that have multiple animals, right,

667

:

because we're experiencing a crisis

with pet overpopulation, and there

668

:

are so many animals in shelters, and

shelters are just overextended, there

669

:

are smaller rescue groups, basically

hoarding animals, and it's because of

670

:

the cost of animal care, I mean, it's a,

it's a huge problem for people to take

671

:

more animals into their home because

of the cost of care, and if we can

672

:

potentially assist somebody that you.

673

:

Can offer a loving home and care and

feed, you know, two, three dogs, if we can

674

:

offer them, you know, affordable services,

then I think that that is helping not

675

:

just the individual and the animals,

but just the overall shelter community

676

:

with this huge crisis of overpopulation.

677

:

Rachel Finney: It's true.

678

:

And when we look at, um, uh, clients

who are utilizing our pet food

679

:

assistance program, the average

households that we serve has six pets.

680

:

You know, if you're someone who maybe

doesn't have a lot of resources, but you

681

:

have a cat or a dog, you could probably

figure out how to get food or, you know,

682

:

vaccinations for that single animal.

683

:

But if you have two or three or

four or five, it's going to become

684

:

increasingly more difficult.

685

:

And we'll have, you know, folks who

react to that and say, well, gosh,

686

:

you know, they can't afford it.

687

:

They shouldn't have that many animals.

688

:

But then let's pause for a moment.

689

:

Look how that household got six pets.

690

:

Maybe, you know, the single woman had

two pets and her sister and her sister's

691

:

children moved in with her and they

had two pets and then, um, you know,

692

:

the next door neighbor went to jail

and now that dog who was abandoned

693

:

is part of the household and you have

somebody who's really caring, really

694

:

extending themselves and their resources

to do the very best that they can, who

695

:

absolutely see pets as their family.

696

:

Why wouldn't we help that family?

697

:

You know, why are they not

deserving of that companionship?

698

:

Why are they're, they're being incredibly

resourceful and pooling, you know, their

699

:

combined resources to the best they can.

700

:

We should help them.

701

:

It's not a matter of judgment.

702

:

Um, and I'll say too, you know,

all those animal people out there

703

:

that are prepared to judge what you

haven't gotten vaccines for your pet.

704

:

You haven't gotten wellness care.

705

:

You let it get this sick.

706

:

this far extended, just

pause for a moment.

707

:

So everyone out there listening,

are you up to date on your own

708

:

annual exam, your personal wellness?

709

:

Have you gotten your

mammogram, your colonoscopy?

710

:

Have you done, you know, and

most people kind of get sheepish

711

:

and go, well, no, I haven't.

712

:

Well then what the heck?

713

:

Why are you judging?

714

:

Why?

715

:

What are you judging?

716

:

It doesn't mean you don't love yourself.

717

:

If you haven't gotten

your mammogram, right?

718

:

Things happen.

719

:

It doesn't mean that you

don't love your spouse.

720

:

If they, you haven't insisted that they

go forward and get that colonoscopy or

721

:

other screening that they need, right?

722

:

We have to be kind and compassionate

and realize Life is hard and there

723

:

are a lot of things competing for our

resources, our time and attention.

724

:

And so if somebody gets to our

doorstep, our first words are,

725

:

wow, thank you for coming here.

726

:

You are the hero, right?

727

:

Like you did this, you've got

your animal here, you know,

728

:

let's, let's work with you.

729

:

I don't, we don't have time or

resources as a movement, as a

730

:

profession to sit in judgment.

731

:

Move on.

732

:

What's happening?

733

:

How are we going to help this animal?

734

:

How are we going to help this person?

735

:

So just check your

judgment, just leave it.

736

:

Yeah, sometimes

737

:

Dr. G: I think of like some of the

people that have multiple animals, you

738

:

know, as you said, like things happen.

739

:

So somebody may have taken a stray and

decided I'm going to give this dog a home.

740

:

And then all of a sudden the

dog had six puppies because it

741

:

was pregnant when they got it.

742

:

And they decided that they don't want

to put that burden on someone else.

743

:

They don't want to take

the animals to the shelter.

744

:

So they want to keep those animals

and they have this space and the

745

:

ability to, to house and care for them.

746

:

But having seven animals in the

house, it's super expensive,

747

:

even just the general wellness,

even if they're just getting core

748

:

vaccines and, and nothing else.

749

:

So, again, we need to think about

how helping those people is helping

750

:

the community in general, because

that's six dogs that are not going

751

:

to end up in the shelter world.

752

:

That's not six dogs that are

going to end up in the street.

753

:

Or end up abused and abandoned

and, you know, all the

754

:

repercussions that come from it.

755

:

So, yeah, looking at the, looking

at everything without those judgment

756

:

glasses and just saying, okay, I'm not

here to judge you about how you got

757

:

here is how can we move on and help?

758

:

So, what are, what are the essential

care centers short and long term goals?

759

:

Rachel Finney: In this short time, it's

really to learn and grow this model, to

760

:

understand it fully, to vet it, and to

make sure that it's completely viable.

761

:

We believe that it is.

762

:

And once we have demonstrated its

viability and we've become as efficient as

763

:

we can be, um, and extended our resources.

764

:

further out, maybe develop

some more service offerings.

765

:

We really see this as scalable.

766

:

There's an estimated 70, 000

pets in Franklin County alone who

767

:

have never seen a veterinarian.

768

:

And so one facility that's offering

these services is not going to be

769

:

enough to meet the need, especially

as our community grows with all of

770

:

the expansion and new jobs and new.

771

:

People moving into our community

that infrastructure is not there

772

:

to support all of the need.

773

:

And so I think the the actual clinic

itself and its programs and services is

774

:

scalable, not only within Franklin County

for multiple locations, but to help.

775

:

Address and give a model to other

communities throughout the country,

776

:

because the challenges that we have

in Columbus around workforce shortages

777

:

or food instability or lack of

access to low cost veterinary care,

778

:

they are not unique to Columbus.

779

:

So, once we have vetted this model, our

intention is to help it grow around the

780

:

country and share the tools and resources

that we have with other communities.

781

:

Dr. G: Do you have need for volunteers

and for additional staff members?

782

:

And if so, how can people find

out about that information?

783

:

Rachel Finney: We do utilize

volunteers, um, certainly at the

784

:

shelter and man, do we need more?

785

:

So please raise your hands and

we'd love to work with you.

786

:

Um, at the essential care center

right now, our volunteers are

787

:

engaged in pet food distribution.

788

:

So really helping us, um,

manage, sort and store.

789

:

donated pet food and then get it

to people, um, you know, Monday

790

:

through Friday and high volume

vaccine clinics, um, once a month.

791

:

So volunteers help us facilitate

that and the future we'll have

792

:

more volunteer opportunities.

793

:

But again, we're learning our

system, and becoming efficient.

794

:

And we want to make sure we do that and

streamline before we invite volunteers

795

:

and so we know that we're creating a

really good positive experience for them.

796

:

So more news to come, but right

now, um, pet food assistance is

797

:

where we utilize volunteer support

at the essential care center.

798

:

Dr. G: I wish you all

the success in the world.

799

:

I'm looking forward to seeing how

everything grows and how everything

800

:

expands because it's a really

important need for the community and

801

:

it is important in a lot of different

communities, special rural communities.

802

:

So, I'm hoping that you guys are

successful and then, like, places in

803

:

Southern Ohio, for instance, where

there's like, just so much lack of

804

:

veterinary care that places like

that can develop similar systems.

805

:

So, in closing, is there anything

that you guys want to share that we

806

:

forgot to mention or that would be

important for the public to know?

807

:

Rachel Finney: Well, one thing I want to

say is thank you for the work that you're

808

:

doing and sharing this message across

the nation and the work you're doing,

809

:

particularly in rural communities in Ohio.

810

:

We need more collaborations and

more, uh, more professionals like

811

:

yourself that are doing this work.

812

:

So thank you.

813

:

Dr. G: Well, it was very educational,

very informational, and I'm hoping

814

:

that our listeners Not just the public,

but also veterinarians and people in

815

:

the veterinary community understand

the importance of this service and

816

:

how they can utilize you guys, how you

guys can benefit mutually from them.

817

:

So thank you again for, for being

part of the, of this episode and

818

:

for everybody that's listening.

819

:

Thank you so much for listening

and thank you so much for caring.

820

:

Rachel Finney: Thank you.

821

:

Thank you.

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About the Podcast

The Animal Welfare Junction
Veterinary Forensics
The Animal Welfare Junction is a podcast developed to bring awareness to different topics in animal welfare. The host, Michelle Gonzalez (Dr. G) is a veterinarian who provides affordable veterinary care in the State of Ohio, and also a Forensic Veterinarian helping with the investigation and prosecution of cases of animal cruelty and neglect.
The topics presented are based on the experiences of Dr. G and our guests and include discussions about real cases, humane projects, and legal issues that affect animals and the community. Due to the nature of the discussion, listener discretion is advised as some topics may be too strong for some listeners.

About your host

Profile picture for Alba Gonzalez

Alba Gonzalez

Michelle González (DrG) was born and raised in Puerto Rico. Her passion growing up was to become a veterinarian. She obtained a B.S. in Zoology at Michigan State University and the Doctor of Veterinary Medicine degree at The Ohio State University, followed by a 1-yr Internship in Medicine, Surgery, Emergency and Critical Care at the University of Missouri-Columbia. In 2006 she founded the Rascal Unit, a mobile clinic offering accesible and affordable sterilization, and wellness services throughout the State of Ohio.
Dr. G is involved in many aspects of companion veterinary medicine including education, shelter assistance and help to animals that are victims of cruelty and neglect.
DrG completed a Master’s degree in Veterinary Forensics from the University of Florida and a Master’s in Forensic Psychology from Southern New Hampshire University. She is currently enrolled at the University of Florida Forensic Science program. She assists Humane organizations and animal control officers in the investigation, evaluation, and prosecution of cases of animal cruelty and neglect.