of the animal and problem behaviors.
As a clinic, celebrate the HAB in ways that are authentic. Genuine interest in patient well‐being and helping owners with their pets is more effective than marketing gimmicks.
All staff must be aware of how different people express the bond they have with their pet. Accepting the range of attachment by owners helps staff accept owner decisions for their pet.
Use other professionals to help highly attached owners cope with the loss of a pet. Some will need professional help to recover from the loss of their pet.
2.14.3 Cautions
Compassion fatigue can come about in veterinary clinics when staff are dealing with highly attached pet owners who need extra attention to help them cope with sick, dying or recently deceased pets (see 8.17 Dealing with Compassion Fatigue).
Compassion fatigue can also occur when staff are interacting with clients whose attachment levels are very different from their own beliefs and attitudes about the HAB. Education of staff about the HAB and how it varies with different people can help staff accept owner decisions and minimize staff stress.
As companion animals are more highly valued, negative treatment outcomes may be less tolerated by some owners, leading to litigation. Care should be taken to cover the risks associated with treatments in writing and have the owner sign the form in all cases. Adequate professional insurance is also a necessity.
References
1 1 Brockman, B.K., Taylor, V.A., and Brockman, C.M. (2008). The price of unconditional love: consumer decision making for high‐dollar veterinary care. Journal of Business Research 61 (5): 397–405.
2 2 DiGiacomo, N., Arluke, A., and Patronek, G.J. (1998). Surrendering pets to shelters: the relinquisher's perspective. Anthrozoos 11 (1): 41–51.
Recommended Reading
1 Blazina, C., Boya, G., and Shen‐Miller, D. (2011). The Psychology of the Human–Animal Bond: A Resource for Clinicians and Researchers. New York: Springer.
2 Daley, O.M. (2009). Made for each Other: The Biology of the Human–Animal Bond. Cambridge: Merloyd Lawrence Paperbacks.
3 Human Animal Bond Research Institute: https://habri.org/
4 The Compassion Fatigue Project. www.compassionfatigue.org/index.html
2.15 Promoting the Human–Animal Bond
Sarah Rumple
Rumpus Writing and Editing LLC, Denver, CO, USA
2.15.1 Summary
Veterinary professionals should play an active role in promoting the human–animal bond among their clients. At the heart of that effort is client education, with a focus on preventive healthcare and behavior. Education should be taken beyond the typical exam room discussions to include alternative methods that are easily absorbed by pet owners.
When clients understand how to keep their pets healthy and how to properly address potential behavior concerns, fewer pets will be relinquished and euthanized, the human–animal bond will continue to grow, and veterinary practices will flourish.
2.15.2 Terms Defined
Human–Animal Bond: A mutually beneficial and dynamic relationship between people and animals that is influenced by behaviors essential to the health and well‐being of both.
2.15.3 The Human–Animal Bond
The human–animal bond is a mutually beneficial relationship between people and animals (see 2.14 Benefits of the Human–Animal Bond). According to the American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA), the veterinarian's role in the human–animal bond is to maximize the potentials of the relationship between people and animals [1].
How can veterinarians maximize the potentials of the relationship between people and animals? Education is key. While pet owners usually have the best intentions, many do not understand how to provide the best care for their pets so they can enjoy longer, healthier, happier lives together. When veterinary practitioners adequately educate pet owners on how to provide exceptional care for their pets – and why they should provide this care – they are promoting the human–animal bond, which enhances the health and well‐being of pets and their owners.
2.15.4 Client Education Opportunities
In addition to traditional exam room conversations, consider these opportunities to educate your clients.
Enhanced exam room communication: while it's true that much of what veterinary professionals say to pet owners in the exam room is misheard, misunderstood, or later forgotten, there are resources available to aid in your exam room client education efforts (see 5.10 Discussing Pet‐Specific Care). Bring visual aids to support your messaging (images of heartworms or periodontal disease will have a bigger impact on clients than your explanation of these conditions alone). Provide printouts with images, your recommendations, and more applicable information for clients to take home and read later.
Custom literature: invest in brochures and other literature customized to your practice on a variety of pet health and behavior topics. While digital communication and online resources are important, many clients appreciate a tangible resource they can take home.
Practice blog and social media: not only will a regularly updated practice blog do wonders for your website's search engine optimization, it can also be a wealth of credible information for pet owners to reference at the click of a button. Publish links to your blog posts on your social media channels, in e‐communications to clients, and through your practice's mobile app.
Educational open house: invite a veterinary behaviorist or training expert to your practice for an open house. The event could feature lessons on various training techniques or a behavior question‐and‐answer period. Whether your clients have dogs who pull on the leash or cats who are scratching inappropriately, your open house could prove to be priceless when it comes to nurturing the bonds between your clients and their pets.
Community event: host a pet‐friendly community “fun run” that raises awareness about any pet‐related
