PROTECTING THE PUPS
Carly Werle’s animal hospital prioritizes pets’ emotional health and well-being at every visit,
As founder of Coveted Canines Dog Rescue, Carly Werle and her team of volunteers take in animals who have suffered neglect and abuse.
“They’re so vulnerable when we get them. We’re unaware of what their triggers are, their fears,” Werle, a Forest Hill resident, said. “We don’t know how the dogs will react to a clinic, to a vet; we have to know if there’s surgery needed — there’s so many components.”
Being able to take her charges to a veterinary hospital where their emotional health and well-being is a top priority has been a godsend for Werle, whose non-profit organization focuses on saving dogs that are at high risk of being euthanized.
Toronto’s Downtown Animal Hospital is Canada’s first “fear free certified practice,” which means that the Church and Wellesley streets vet clinic places its patients’ mental health and well-being at the same level of attention as their physical health. Unlike other clinics that advertise certification, Downtown Animal Hospital’s veterinarians as well as its entire hospital is certified.
“We like to start before animals arrive at the clinic,” said Dr. Heather Steede, an associate at the hospital.
Pet owners are provided an information package that includes such tips as getting the cat carrier out a few days prior to travel, spraying artificial pheromones onto blankets and warming up the car if it’s cold or cooling it down if it’s hot.
“Some of these cats aren’t used to leaving the house,” Steede pointed out.
To further alleviate stress, the clinic separates dogs and cats with waiting areas and exam rooms for each animal.
“Classical music is pumped into exam rooms because studies have shown that animals respond to classical or piano,” Steede said.
Colour scheme plays an integral role in a pet’s mental health. Animals respond better to pastels, Steede noted. Dog owners are asked not to feed their pet before an appointment because they tend to be food motivated. Veterinary personnel give the animals little treats as they complete such tasks as stepping on the scale.
“It’s a vet’s responsibility to recognize stress symptoms,” Steede said, citing pacing, panting and avoiding eye contact as examples.
Steede said she’ll make adjustments like conducting an exam of a patient on a bench with its owner sitting behind the animal.
According to recent veterinary studies by the Human Animal Bond Research Institute, 77 per cent of pets displayed signs of fear, anxiety and stress once they stepped foot in a clinic and more than half showed dislike for waiting in the lobby or reception at their veterinarian’s office.
Meanwhile, 38 per cent of owners are stressed just thinking about taking their pets to the hospital.
“I’ve got cats who’ve never been examined in 15 years because their owners had a bad experience,” Steede said.
Colour scheme plays an integral role in a pet’s mental health. Animals respond better to pastels