How in the world could something so good turn out so bad? We’re talking about the now-canceled affordable pet clinic that was scheduled for Rockingham this weekend.
The event, organized by the Humane Society in response to distemper outbreaks, was scheduled to provide free rabies shots and discounted distemper and parvo one-year vaccines. Veterinarians would be available for check-ups at no cost, said the Humane Society, and NC State University College of Veterinary Medicine students were planning to be on hand to practice giving vaccines, which were going to be donated.
Local veterinarians had been told that, as part of the pet clinic participation, each $3 co-pay for vaccinations would go directly to the veterinarians’ practice. Pet owners would also be referred to their respective animal hospitals, in order to ensure a healthier pet population, said Kimberley Alboum, North Carolina State Director for the Humane Society.
By all early accounts, the discounted pet clinic sounded like a real win-win situation for all involved. Instead, it’s proving to be a big loss for everyone — including the community at large.
Pet owners who’d hoped to get their dog or cat looked over and vaccinated, learn a bit about the diseases to look out for when it comes to their pets, and perhaps pick up a few free goodies including leashes and toys, are left empty-handed, and their pets unvaccinated.
The college students lose out on a great learning opportunity.
The vets — who chose not to participate and in doing so forced the event cancellation — lose out on potential customers, and are subjected to the ire of angry pet owners and others who wonder: why?
The vets have defended their lack of desire to participate, with the major point being the pet clinic is unnecessary, and the preferred method of delivering vaccines is to administer long-term vaccinations; shots with the power to keep pets safe for up to 3 years. The shots made available at the pet clinic would have limited staying power, requiring booster shots.
“I’m so disappointed,” Alboum said Wednesday. “It’s really sad … I really feel like the community has been let down.”
And indeed we have.
The author of this piece would have you believe that he/she is interested in animal care, but if that were the case, the author would have investigated the reasons for the veterinarians lack of interest in participating rather than labeling them at the outset. Veterinarians care, and subsidize the care, for animals every day. If the financial books at veterinary clinics were the business of people such as the author of this piece, they would see that items and services get discounted and given away on a routine basis for those in need.
Further, there is a lack of real-world business sense apparent in the piece. As NCDVM mentioned, patrons of these low-cost, drive-bys do not translate into clients for the participating veterinarians to any measurable degree. Ask any clinical veterinarian who has had a foot on each side of the fence, and they'll confirm that the low-cost shoppers aren't interested in an ongoing relationship with a veterinarian.
Finally, the author would have you believe that he/she cares about the education of veterinary students. Not only do I as a veterinarian care about their education, I open my clinic to them on a routine basis. I put my money and my time where my mouth is. I provide a way from students to see real veterinary medicine, not a drive-by vaccine assembly line. One cannot possibly believe in any honest sense that there is educational value at such an event for veterinary students.
The entitlement mentality is on full display in this piece, and asking veterinarians to foot the bill is offensive.
The author of this piece certainly has the right to their opinion, but has left out some potential game changing aspects of these situations which should be included to give a more well rounded assessment.
(1) Pet owners who attend the low cost events, such as this one, rarely have any interaction with the Veterinarians who participate. Generally they are set-up as an assembly line "pop-a-shot" as rapidly as possible just to try to get through the line. In my experience, the pet owner participants won't remember who the Veterinarian was that provided the service - and therefor the point regarding "future potential customers (clients)" is moot. Generally speaking, pet owner participants do not end up going to / supporting the Veterinarian participants business - they just continue to attend other low cost events in the future.
(2) The Veterinarians who participate in these events are generally not provided with any insurance coverage by the 'organizers; fo these events. In many cases, the Veterinarian is entirely responsible and can/are held legally accountable for anything from a pet owner beign injured by their own animal to an event attendee tripping over the curb and injuring their ankle. In previous simialr situations, the County, City or Rescue Organization organizing the event absolves themselves of providing the insurance or costs of legal representation leaving the Veterinarian, participating as a community service, to face these hazards alone.
(3) In the state of North Carolina, The NC Veterinary Medical Board has determined that a Veterinarian participating in a vaccine clinic may administer a Rabies Vaccine and/or a Microchip without an Examination or what is known as a valid Veterinarian-client-patient relationship. However, any further services, such as providing any other vaccination or diagnostic etsting (heartworm test, fecal float etc), is considered an act of practicing veterinary medicine and requires proepr examination, medical record keeping and a valid Veterinarian Client patient relationship must be established. Tehrefor, Veterinarians who participate in these events and do anything more than provide Rabies/Microchipping must adhere to the NC VMB regulations or be deemed in violation of the Practcie Act.
(3) Further, the NC VMB stipulates the condition that must exist in order to perform acts fo Veterinary Medicine. Since these vaccine events are not held in a licensed Veterinary Facility -or- thropugh the use of a licensed mobile facility, the events themselevs are by default occuring in uninspected/non-licensed locations or mobile units - and if things other than Rabies vaccination and microchipping are occuring, then teh Veterinarian would be practciing Veterinary Medicine in an unlicensed facility/location - a violation of the parctice act.
* If the author of the opinion piece or the readers would like to confirm 2/3 above, they should contact the NC VMB and the Executive Director Mr. Thomas Mickey to confirm it.
Finally, it's very easy to offer criticism of the Veterinarians - however, essentially what the author and the public that support these low cost / free clinics for the public fail to take into account is you are basically asking the Veterinarians to -pay- for these events out of their own pockets. Certainly the supplies cost money, as does properly trained staff they provide (Volunteers face insurnace/liability issues as noted above), and not to forget the $400k investment the Veterinarian makes in tehir undergraduate and graduate degree just to get to the point of the DVM, then there is the Veterinarians time. Veterinarians already basically subsedize most pet care through their ridiculously low fees when compaired to what the human equivalent physicians / human health care cahrge for similar services - now we Veterinarians are money grubbing for declining to give even more of ourselves.
If the author's aim was truly to make low cost / free care accessible to the general public who "can't afford" proper pet care - then the author could have suggested that the Humane Society or other Rescue Group / Do-gooder organizations reach out an contract with an established Veterinary Practice. The HS could offer to pay for or subsedize the Veterinary Hospitals care for a "Community Clinic Day" -at- the Veterinary Hospital. The Veterinary busienss might offer to provide services to the HS at a 10-15-20% decrease over their normal fees, providing tehir own facility, staff and supplies (and avoid teh insurnace and VMB isssues noted above) while getting some of the 'goodwill' teh author suggests is avialble at the parking lot clinics. The pet owner would pay a fraction of the remaining fees - and the Humane Society could pick up the difference between the 20% discount provided by the Veterinarian and what the pet owner is actually asked to pay.
But we would never suggest the Humane Society pay the Veterinarian for their services, despite the fact that HS actively solicit funds in the name of helping animals and providing care for pet owners who can't afford Veterinary care. That wouldn't be as sensationalist as making the Veterinarian out to be the baddie.
Secondly... anyone can go to the farm supply and purchase vaccines for their pets. Most people are not aware that they need boosters every three weeks until they are four months old.
I think highly of ethical Veterinarians, but I have also witnessed clients "taken to the cleaners" in unnecessary charges. Folks that can afford vet services generally do take their pets in regularly. Some folks cannot afford to do so. It would be one thing to decline participation, but to have the event canceled??? UNETHICAL!!!
And yes, we are all out to make a living, but check prices on bone surgery, etc... and you will find that this clinic would definitely have not emptied anyone's pockets!
DVM-Doctor of Veterinary Medicine. Clearly, you are the one that needs spell check. Feed store vaccines. Man, I love those things. That is part of how I get to have so many near death FEMA parvo situations. Those vaccines are often not kept cold or out of the light. They become useless as a homeopathic vaccine. And denying that the education and exam is one of the most important parts of the deal is ignorant. The event CLEARLY does not follow the legalities set down by the NCVMB. The event was not cancelled because people are cheap, it went against the rules. That is not only unethical, that is illegal. I participate in rabies clinics, but those are for public health reasons. I tell every single person that the rabies vaccine is not the only thing their pet needs. Practicing emergency medicine for so long, I see the pets that have a huge MCT that could have been caught early enough to actually do the animal some good. I see the pyometras and heart disease from heart worms. Education done by the vet could have helped prevent this. But the kid at the feed store cannot do an exam. A rabies shot in a pop a shot assembly line does nothing for these problems. Selling our profession short and not providing REAL care for these animals is unethical. With every emergency exam, I address chronic problems and preventative medicine. I direct the owner back to the primary care vet for this. Because the vaccines are only a part of the care we provide.
SHAME, SHAME, SHAME ON THEM!