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Veterinarians: Are Pets People Too?

Posted by Heather Brautman | Tue, Feb 18, 2014 @ 12:30 PM

RemoteDepositCaptureYour pet patients’ people may have various monikers for their animals – best friend, one of the family, four-legged child, soul mate. In a single day at your practice, you and your techs may interact with “Doggie Dads,” “Cat Moms,” and many friends of the furry, feathered, and scaly creatures you’re treating. As we got ready to release our latest veterinary practice revenue-boosting service (see below), we talked to a few veterinarians about how they’re playing the name game.

“As the World Turns”

In her practice in Santa Rosa, California, Davida J. has noticed a trend that bucks the economy. “The past years have been devastating to the real estate market, the stock market, and employment, but we haven’t seen that happening in my practice.” Davida, who has run her practice for 20 years in the Wine Country area of Northern California, goes on to note: “When the world is experiencing tough times, the human-animal connection gets even stronger. People rely on their pets for that unconditional love. Didn’t get that job you waited weeks to hear about? Your dog still meets you at the door every day, telling you you’re the most important person in the world to him.”

“Trends Cross Species”

RDC for MerchantsAnother Californian vet, Edwin B., offers a perspective that may be unique to only certain parts of the country. “Yes, some of the stereotypes of SoCal are true. There’s a focus on appearance, healthy eating, looking and feeling good. And we’re noticing that coming through our doors, too. In the past few years, our grooming and ‘specialty’ services such as glitter Claw Clips have gone through the roof. We’re also selling much more holistic and gluten-free food. It seems that when pets’ owners make a lifestyle change (such as going vegan), they want to pass that along to their pets, too.”

“No Pet Left Behind”

Tornadoes and other natural disasters ripped through the Midwest in 2013, and veterinary practices did not escape unscathed. “When the storms rage in every year, we go into our practiced plan,” tells Max F. in Cleveland. “Every new person who joins our practice is fully trained in emergency procedures, including putting our boarded and visiting animals first. We have complete documentation on each pet’s medical conditions, including exact type of food, feeding schedule, medications, and allergies, plus contact information for the pet owners. Evacuating the animals safely is our number one priority. There are no pets left behind.”

“It’ll Take All Nine Lives”

Not everyone sees animals for their large hearts in tiny bodies. “I’m not going to sugar-coat it, it’s a struggle,” says vet Fanny Rose, in Brooklyn. “It's tough when we show up for work and there are abandoned pets on our doorstep.” [Disclosure: Fanny Rose’s veterinary practice is one of the Safe Harbor drop-off destinations the state provides for people to surrender their animals.] Veterinarians are seeing their staffs and budgets stretched to the max to care for animals who haven’t yet found their forever homes. “These cats and dogs didn’t choose to be abandoned. So we’re never going to give up on them. It may take all nine of our lives, but we will care for them with the dignity and love they deserve until we can find someone in our constituency who wants to bring them into their families.” 

It’s pretty clear to us that, although animals may walk on four legs rather than two and sprout hair in places that humans often don’t, they’re cherished members of our society. As veterinarians, you may find yourselves spread thin trying to manage the high emotions of your day to day work, plus run the administrative side, as well as keep enough money coming in to keep everything afloat. That’s why we created our VET-RDC program. In short, it allows you to safely accept checks for pet patient payments, while offering excellent protection and reducing administrative tasks like going to the bank to make deposits. Dig up our free guide below and get rewarded for all the good you do.

Remote Deposit Capture for Vets Insider's Guide

Topics: Veterinarians

Written by Heather Brautman