Ever heard of the Open Door One Health Model?
Despite the strong bond between owners and their pets, plenty of challenging circumstances can still cause pets to lose their homes.
According to Dr. Sara Pizano, founder of Team Shelter U.S.A.,
“About 20% of animals entering shelters are relinquished by their owners. However, when the ASPCA did a study, it showed that 80% of pet owners did not want to. They just needed temporary help.”
This was seconded by Aimee St. Arnaud, co-founder of two for-profit veterinary hospitals providing access to care and full-service veterinary care.
She said,
“One in four people have experienced a barrier in getting veterinary care in the last two years.”
The challenge, however, is that it is difficult for most privately practicing veterinarians to provide access to care while managing the cost of doing business and remaining sustainable.
This is exactly what Dr. Sara Pizano and Aimee St. Arnaud strive to resolve.
About the Open Door One Health Model Mentorship Program
With more than 30 years of experience as a veterinarian in animal welfare, Dr. Pizano uses her expertise in shelter reform to become a positive force in helping shelters of all types and sizes, as well as similar organizations, to reach their full potential.
She has teamed up with Aimee from Open Door Veterinary Care/Community Pet Care Clinic for the implementation of the Open Door One Health national mentorship program.
Together with Aimee and her colleagues, Dr. Pizano mentors private practices and non-profit organizations on how they can make sure to provide pets with quality and affordable access to vet care and still be able to keep their business doors open and cover their costs.
As Aimee explains in the podcast,
“The number one reason why animals are surrendered is the cost of medical care.”
Through the Open Door One Health Model, Team Shelter U.S.A. and Open Door Veterinary Care/Community Pet Care Clinic give vets more tools and resources to allow pets to get the quality of care that they need while still allowing veterinarians to get paid and make a decent living wage.
These tools may include prepayment plans, pre-savings plans, and vouchers.
“We’re not looking to teach them how to practice veterinary medicine. They already know how to do that…A lot of it really is around the financial conversation. That is really the number one barrier to veterinary care in the country.”
Undeniably, the for-profit model is a promising tool for effectively removing barriers while simultaneously increasing access to veterinary care.
In the long run, this may help keep pets with their families together.
Learn more about the Open Door One Health Model!
Connect with Aimee St. Arnaud: https://opendoorveterinarycare.com/.
Connect with Dr. Sara Pizano: http://www.teamshelterusa.com/
