Vet or Vet Tech with a few free hours a month? Help hospice patient's pets from home!

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Unity Hospice is rolling out a "Pet Peace of Mind" program, and we are in need of a veterinarian or vet tech to help us on a "consulting" basis. This person could be actively working, or retired from the role but still with active connections in the animal welfare community.

The goal of the Pet Peace of Mind program is to help patients keep their beloved pets in their homes for as long as possible, and to help find a future home for the pet so that the patient knows their pet will be loved and cared for after their passing.

The role of our consulting vet or vet tech is NOT to serve as the veterinarian for the pets, but to consult with our staff and volunteers if there is an issue that needs some attention from an expert in pet health. This is a role that will only be needed occasionally - probably once a month on average depending on how many patients with animals we are helping at any given time.

Below is a description of the role from the Pet Peace of Mind program materials:

To be an effective addition to your team, your Consulting Veterinarian should understand that:

· The primary goal for Pet Peace of Mind is keeping the hospice patient and pet together during the patient’s time on hospice.

· The patient’s existing veterinarian will be used if there is already a relationship in place.

· A Consulting Veterinarian should be available to advise you in a reasonable amount of time when you have a pet care situation you need to discuss. Outreach is almost always through phone or email.

· A Consulting Veterinarian should be prepared to commit some time up front to gain familiarity with your Pet Peace of Mind program and understand your processes for the program. S/he should also be well-connected in your area’s animal welfare community to assist you in opening doors to develop a foster care and adoption network when you need to place a pet who will be left homeless after the patient’s death.

· A Consulting Veterinarian should not be expected to treat pets for free or at a reduced cost. Their role is advisory, advocacy, and networking.

On an ongoing basis, your Consulting Veterinarian should be prepared to provide support for you in the following ways:

· If there is no existing veterinary relationship, assist in establishing a relationship with an attending veterinarian if the need arises.

· Provide you with a cost range for routine surgical procedures and services in your area.

· If you are providing financial assistance with pet care emergencies, s/he should be willing to help you develop your catastrophic policy-i.e., what your program will tentatively cover in an emergency situation and what part will be the patient’s responsibility if additional treatment is needed. While many of these instances will be decided on a case by case basis, some decisions can be made ahead of time.

· Help with outreach to build awareness about the program in the local animal welfare and pet care community designed to develop foster and re-homing options.