A bond-centered veterinary practice understands that the primary reason for surrender to animal shelters and young animal euthanasia is for behavior problems. Upon relinquishment, many people also identify that they just didn’t know what was going to be expected of them as a pet owner.

It is important to remember that you will only see your new patients on a monthly basis until they are 4 months of age…the primary age of relinquishment is 6–12 months of age.

As a veterinary practitioner, you need to do more than just educate owners about house training, biting and scratching issues, etc., you also need to advocate on behalf of your patients and help your clients understand the tremendous responsibility that they have undertaken…that they are now a pet parent. You also have to do this with gentleness, respect and tact as you are also beginning to establish an important bond to your clients during this formative time.

During this interactive lecture, we will discuss some of the animal behavior basics that you will cover with clients when they come in for their new pet visits. It is the goal of the Argus Institute for Families and Veterinary Medicine that you begin to develop a new philosophy on the way that you approach these introductory visits:

 Being realistic about the responsibilities of a pet parent.

 Addressing the emotions of a pet parent.

 Choosing the interpersonal route to advocate for your new patient.

 Offering the resources and continued support of your hospital.

If you can become a skilled practitioner in dealing with this very exciting, and yet tenuous, time, you will be able to maintain the client-pet-veterinary bond for years. This lifespan will give you a chance to practice medicine, build a stronger relationship with your clients, and a chance to create a meaningful ending when your patients eventually grow very old and gray.