OkcPets Magazine November 2021

November/December 2021 • OKC Pets 9 DOCTORS’ HOURS: Monday through Friday 8:00am-11:30am, 1:30pm-4:30pm Saturday Hours by Appointment Only 2826 West Britton Road, Oklahoma City, OK 73120 (405) 751-8007 www.brittonroadveterinaryclinic.com Oil on Canvas Steve Eagleston Call/Text: 941.806.7002 PET TRIBUTES “Animal Emergency Center, an icon of the Tulsa area, is oper- ating on very limited hours now due to vet and vet staff short- ages. There are simply not enough vets to fill the shifts,” Owen says. “One of my vet techs left emergency vet medicine because of abusive clients. The owners told her it was her fault their pet died when they couldn’t afford treatment. The pet had ingested antifreeze at home in the owner’s garage. …We all have to self-re- flect and take responsibility for our own actions as pet owners, as veterinary professionals, as humans. I had to remind her it wasn’t her fault. She is in this business because she cares about pets, and she could work at McDonald’s for the same pay. If this is happen- ing to us, and we are just one team, this is happening to all of my colleagues; we have to save our profession.” How You Can Help Collectively, as the pet community, there are many ways you can help prevent crises, and it starts with understanding, Owen explains. “This is not an attack on the public but more of an ed- ucational tool. We are seeing the shortages, and it’s only going to get worse. What can we all do and how can we stop people from leaving the profession? There’s awareness, there’s education, and there are solutions.” Here are several ways pet owners can take action: 1. Understand you shouldn’t create online smear campaigns. If you have a problem or complaint, speak directly to your veteri- narian to resolve it. “Your veterinarian is human and will make mistakes. Instead of trying to destroy their business by smearing their reputation online, go to the source. They want to help.” 2. Understand vet care is expensive and learn to save for an emergency or acquire pet insurance. “As the cost of human medical supplies rises, vets purchase these same supplies,” Owen says. “The cost will continue to go up, not because the margin is rising. Our margin has never been lower. There is no margin for vets to be able to afford giving away anything for free, nor is there any wiggle room. When there’s a need, prices go up to reflect that. Pet parents don’t understand they, too, are recipients of the increase in medical supply costs. For an average $2,000 vet bill — which the owner just sees as $2,000 that went to the vet — the vet walked out with $20 in his or her pocket. If you’re going to be mad, be mad at the right place; that’s the cost of doing service. I could flip a hamburger for the same profit.” 3. Understand you need to communicate in a civilized manner. Yelling and screaming at your vet or vet clinic staff are never productive. To have a valid patient-vet relationship, it requires effort from both sides. “We are stepping up for our profession and reporting abusive clients,” Owen says. “We have got to save our profession.” 4. Understand you can show your support. Veterinary Hope Foundation is calling on all pet owners to show their apprecia- tion for the veterinary community. One way to help is by post- ing pictures of your animals on social media with the hashtag #sharevetlove (be sure to give a shout-out to your own vet too!). You can also spread awareness with VHF Facebook frames and Instagram filters. If you would like to donate monetarily, you can do so at veterina- ryhope.org . Click the red “Donations” button in the top right of the home page. To learn more, contact info@veterinaryhope.org.