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A Brave New WorldThe Role of the New Graduate Veterinarians in

Dealing with Animal Welfare Organizations

Zeke Zekoff, DVMPresident of United Pet Fund

March 21, 2013

What, me worry?

Concerns of those going for internships:

• Working the ER alone• Having students being smarter than the intern• Being overworked and still being able to make

the right decisions• Living off a salary of ~ $25,000• Matching for Residency• Huge loans accruing interest without

payments• Moving to a new location• No life outside of work• Can significant other also make the move?• Did I choose the right profession?

Concerns of those going into practice:• Being in charge without mentorship• Moving to a clinic where you know no one• Techs and other staff who may resent the

new vet• Loan payments and overwhelming debt• Contract negotiations• Getting taken advantage of in the first year• Making a mistake that kills an animal• Trying to always practice ‘good medicine’,

even if they go somewhere where it is ‘old-school’

• Being able to have a life outside of work• Will significant other be able to deal with

new routine?

Why get involved with animal welfare groups at all with all that you have going

on?

What do you think?

DOWNSIDES OF GETTING INVOLVED WITH ACSOs POST GRADUATION:

• Time commitment to clinic where you work• Expectation that you perform services for

minimal fees due to your ‘love of animals’• Judgment is questioned due to lack of experience• Increased workload for techs and staff =

disagreement• Your new boss does not share your philosophy of

‘returning to the animal community’• Organizations who do not believe in euthanasia

even if the animals are suffering….besides, it’s on your dime

• Intrusion into ‘full-paying client time’

• Spread of disease in your clinic in dealing with higher incidences of communicable diseases, parasites, and zoonotic diseases

• Lack of surgical experience may cause headaches even when performing routine spays and neuters Lack of speed will be magnified when working under the

gun of reduced fees

• If working in a clinic on a percentage of production system, the reduced fees mean more work and less pay

• Lack of appreciation for your efforts• COMPASSION FATIGUE!

COMPASSION FATIGUE

High Debt and Falling Demand Trap New Vets

With all these down sides, why even consider working

with animal rescues and shelters?

First : THE VETERINARIAN’S OATH

“Being admitted to the profession of veterinary medicine, I solemnly swear to use my scientific knowledge and skills for the benefit of society through the protection of animal health and welfare, the prevention and relief of animal suffering, the conservation of animal resources, the promotion of public health, and the advancement of

medical knowledge.I will practice my profession conscientiously, with dignity, and in keeping with the principles of veterinary medical

ethics. I accept as a lifelong obligation the continual improvement of my professional knowledge and

competence.”

• You are benefiting society for those that cannot speak for themselves

• Your efforts will serve your community through the protection of animal health and welfare

• The work you do will fulfill your oath in the prevention and relief of animal suffering

• You entered this profession with a lifelong obligation for the continual improvement of your professional knowledge and competence. The increased # of cases you will see allows you to

practice on cases you would not usually see in a ‘safe’ suburban clinic

• Steady source of income • If you set ‘time boundaries’ with

each organization and stick to them, they can be easily worked into the day’s routine

• Working with ACSOs is good PR for you and the clinic

• Good relationships with ACSOs can mean steady referrals for the clinic you work for when animals are adopted from their organizations

• By seeing more surgical and medical cases with more variety, you will increase the rate that your skills in practice will be honed

• Because of economic compromises, you have the chance to get more experience in amputation, enucleation, dental work, etc. Many shelters and rescues will tell you that

‘handicapped’ animals become more adoptable

• You will develop your skills for ‘MacGyering medicine’ out of necessity. Use OTC medications to save them money Keep your personal life more reasonable when

called about ‘medical emergencies’

• Develop relationships with people who will bring their own animals to you, as well as refer their friends, because you work with their organization

The most important thing you need to do when first starting out of veterinary school in a new internship, or clinical

practice, is to set firm boundaries with your new employer and stick with them. It is too easy to spend ‘someone else’s’

money when being the ‘good guy’. If your new employer has a reluctance to work with ACSOs, show them the economic

benefits and what you can do within the contract boundaries you have.

“It will be a win – win for everyone!”

It’s a brave new world out there once you graduate! To avoid compassion fatigue, start off slow and once time allows you to have your feet firmly

planted, you can expand what you can offer to the animal welfare community.

Don’t dream of forming your own nonprofit unless you have the time and

patience to do it!

Take Away Points* Use your position of respect in the animal community to get

your foot in the door

* If asked to serve on an animal rescue or shelter Board of Directors, politely decline and ask to be their veterinary advisor

* You can best serve these organizations by studying how to manage a nonprofit and then use your position of respect to

help the ACSOs understand that a nonprofit has to be run like a business

* If you are an associate in a practice, be sure to respect the position of the owner(s) of the practice when it comes to dealing

with ACSOs. Changes may need to come at a slower pace than you may want

Any questions?

What is UNITED PET FUND?“Empowering all those who help needy

animals!”

• Founded in 2010• ‘Helping Where Needed’ • ‘Give a man a fish, and you feed him for a

day. Teach him to fish, and you feed him for a lifetime.’ We look to give a ‘HAND UP, and NOT A HANDOUT’.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VY0FrdXjXxA

• Scholarship funds for ACSO volunteers to attend continuing education conferences

• Handyman services for assistance in the repair and maintenance of shelters

• Pet Health Day event in under-served areas

• Emergency funds when needed for unexpected predicaments

• Nonprofit leadership management seminars/webinars, along with helpful shelter/rescue-topics seminars, to the ACSO volunteers and leadership.

• We are working on becoming a national resource and support organization for the smaller ‘mom-and-pop’ ACSOs

• Eventually, with large numbers of members, we can offer access to discounted business services for our members, including: Legal and Accounting, Insurance, Public Relations, IT services, Credit/Financing Services, Pet Products (including food and health supplies), Webinar-based training in Nonprofit leadership and management skills, as well as Animal Behavior and Health needs.

• Pursuing a centralized pet food bank in the near future

www.unitedpetfund.org unitedpetfund@fuse.net