{"id":2708,"date":"2020-11-30T17:04:39","date_gmt":"2020-11-30T17:04:39","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/blog.humanepa.org\/?p=2708"},"modified":"2020-11-30T17:04:45","modified_gmt":"2020-11-30T17:04:45","slug":"targeted-pet-wellness-services","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/blog.humanepa.org\/?p=2708","title":{"rendered":"Targeted Pet Wellness Services"},"content":{"rendered":"
By: Suzanne D’Alonzo, Community Outreach Programs Manager for Humane Pennsylvania<\/em><\/h5>\n

This December has the Healthy Pets Initiative Team, the Community Outreach leg of our organization, launching Targeted Pet Wellness Services.\u00a0 \u201cTargeted Pet Wellness\u201d is veterinary care offered to specific audiences we\u2019ve identified as in need of access to basic vet care for their pets.\u00a0 The end goal is keeping more pets healthy and with the people who love them.\u00a0\u00a0 \"\"<\/p>\n

If you recall, we\u2019ve been providing pop-up Vaccination\/Microchip Clinics.\u00a0 With COVID, these morphed into Drive-In Vaccination\/Microchip Clinics, offering the same services in a different set up that provides social distancing.\u00a0 The Drive-In clinics are open to any pet owner in our community, and make\u00a0 the two most important\u00a0 vaccinations (rabies and distemper), plus microchipping, all affordable and reasonably easy-access.\u00a0 We offer these around town in 3 seasons of the year, and a generous grant from the Giorgi Family Foundation permits us to offer them at a pay-what-you-can rate.<\/p>\n

Our Target Pet Wellness Services are geared slightly differently.\u00a0 When we planned the pop-up\/Drive-In Clinics we of course considered the needs of our community\u2019s pet owners, taking into account which pet owners would utilize those services.\u00a0 Then we took the next step, considering who wouldn\u2019t<\/u> <\/em>be able to utilize those clinics, and why<\/u><\/em>.<\/p>\n

What community outreach programs all over the U.S. have realized- and what data has proven- is that most pet owners want to do the best they can for their pets.\u00a0 If given opportunities, pet owners make use of those chances to do more for their pets- if<\/em> they can.<\/p>\n

In planning the Targeted Pet Wellness Services we paid attention to which pet owners were missing in large numbers from the Drive-In Clinics.\u00a0 That let us identify the following subsets of pet owners: \u00a0 individuals and families facing homelessness, survivors of domestic abuse, and a portion of our community\u2019s veterans.\u00a0 We thoughtfully tried to list what stops those distinct populations from bringing pets in for care.\u00a0 Situations vary, but that list includes facing a lack of the following;\u00a0permanent housing, money, transportation, phone and\/or internet access, domestic violence, information as to where to bring a pet for medical care and how often to do so, available time to get to a vet while during business hours, and even the simple fact of having too much on one’s plate.<\/p>\n

For example, for a family facing homelessness, it may seem out of reach to find a veterinarian, book an appointment, drive to that appointment, and pay for it.\u00a0 Complicate that example by not having easy access to the internet to find and contact a vet, having car trouble, and knowing every penny counts and there are other more immediate needs pressing.\u00a0 Suddenly, what some of us take for granted becomes impossible.<\/p>\n

Whenever a program anticipates where it may fall short of its intended goals and develop alternative options, the more likely it is to be a success.\u00a0 Targeted Pet Wellness Services eliminates hurdles.\u00a0 This program creates free, walk-in appointments at a location where those pet owners are already going for services. We are paving the way for more pets to get the care and services they need: that\u2019s success overall!<\/p>\n

We planned carefully to make these services the best they could be for this selected audience- but we asked for help with our homework:\u00a0 Humane Pennsylvania is partnering with regional organizations to best connect with those pet owners who are having trouble accessing pet medical care otherwise:\u00a0 Hope Rescue Mission (where we will be available to any clients of the organizations of Berks Coalition to End Homelessness), Veterans Coalition of Pennsylvania, and Safe Berks.\u00a0 They\u2019ll help us reach some of the most vulnerable human populations, and therefore help us assist the most vulnerable pet populations.<\/p>\n

Each month on specific dates and times, our team will set up in the parking lot areas of these organizations.\u00a0 We\u2019ll provided to the pets that need them:<\/p>\n