Interview with Pet Home Health Agency!

What is pet home health agency and why was it started?

Pet Home Health Agency began in 2008 in order to extend the lives and pets with their owners and decrease pre-mature relinquishments. We understand that one of the top ten reasons for relinquishments is old age and sickness. We feel that with help at home with caring for these elderly and or sick or post surgical pets they have a better chance of having an extended life period with good quality with the ones that love them.

Pet Home Health Agency is an adjunct service to your primary care Veterinarian. We work in partnership with Veterinarians to provide continuity of care for their clients and their pets. We are an in home alternative for pet owners who feel overwhelmed by the responsibility of performing treatments without assistance effectively and accurately administering medications; or for those who find it too difficult to get their pet to the Veterinarian; or those that opt out of surgery for fear of the inability to provide the after care and therefore seek euthanasia as an option.

Pet Home Health Agency is a unique and innovative corporation with goals of extending pets lives with their loved ones, giving pet owners an opportunity to experience an active role in their pets care and allowing them the opportunity to choose surgery or care for long term illnesses, rather than euthanasia.

2. What services do you offer and to what areas

Pet Home Health Agency is similar to a visiting nurse service, only we are a full time visiting Vet Tech service. Home health care is our specialty and our expert licensed Vet Techs see pets that require assistance with diabetes management, post op surgical care, dressing changes, fluid management, medicine management, blood draws, blood pressure issues, rehab and the list goes on and on. While some clinics and hospitals may provide this type of care occasionally, we are a formal organized company that provides this service full time, our LVT’s carry their own equipment and scheduling is catered to the client’s needs.

Currently we are servicing Manhattan, Queens, Brooklyn, Westchester County, New Jersey and Connecticut.

3. How do you find your vet techs, do they have any kind of separate training to do mobile care vs. in hospital care?

Our licensed Vet Techs come to us either by word of mouth and curiosity, a friend who is already working for Pet Home Health Agency or our ads. Since we are unique, we have an intense training program for all our Vet Techs hired on. Their interpersonal skills, organizational skills and dealing with end of life pets and pet owners are paramount. Er and or ICU experience is a must. Most Vet Techs who are interested in working in this type of environment are looking for a challenge and a place to grow and most are surprised at the complexities and challenges a home health position offers.

4. How have you been affected by the economy?

This is difficult to say. Because we have only been up and running for a year and a half, it is hard to judge. However, since last year we have grown 100 percent and in light of the economic downturn we probably would be progressing more quickly. We are by no means where we need to be, but just as all start ups especially with a new concept, time will tell.

In the meantime, as we wait for the economy to have an upswing, we are in the process of starting a non- profit organization that focuses on offering these same services for pets that are adopted from shelters that are physically challenged, either by old age, post surgical or chronic illness. We believe this will encourage potential adopters to adopt the least likely to be adopted and they would receive pet home health care to learn how to care for their new pet. In turn, this will help empty the shelters and decrease relinquishments. There are always ways to give, even in an economic crisis. The temporary website for Home Health for Special Pets is: http://www.foundation4specialpets.com/