Service 1: Education for Pet Guardianship

Education about pets is crucial to combatting economic euthanasia because it empowers potential pet parents to understand the full financial responsibility of pet guardianship, including unexpected veterinary costs, which can prevent them from making difficult decisions to euthanize their pet solely due to financial constraints; by being informed, guardians can better plan for potential medical expenses and explore options like pet insurance to avoid economic euthanasia situations.

To be responsible pet parents and companion animal guardians, and to help mitigate Economic Euthanasia, each must have a basic understanding and knowledge of four key areas:

1. Preventive Care - Routine preventive care that includes blood work and urinalysis is critical to understanding the health of our animal patients who cannot describe their symptoms, feelings, and troubles. That’s why new pet guardians must start preventive care discussions from the first day of care.

2. Spaying/Neutering - Spaying and neutering is an important step in managing the overpopulation of cats and dogs. It decreases the number of animals entering shelters and reduces the number of animals euthanized in shelters. Spaying and neutering can also help prevent diseases, such as cancers of the reproductive system, which can be fatal.

3. Pet Insurance - The AVMA encourages pet guardian education about pet insurance. According to a survey by the American Pet Products Association, about 90% of dog owners and 95% of cat owners do not have pet insurance.

4. Animal Health - All pet and companion animal guardians must know the fundamentals of general physiological and psychological animal health. This includes:

   • Knowledge of healthy food and fresh water; providing a safe, cozy shelter

   • Benefits of regular exercise; the importance of regular vet visits; healthy habits

   • Basics of psychological health of their animals, e.g., anxiety, depression, etc.  

This service offers free online courses, instructional videos, tutorials, peer-reviewed studies, articles, and other resources from world-renowned institutions and organizations dedicated to helping pet parents and companion animal guardians care for their loved ones optimally.

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