Animal Welfare Professionals

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  • 1.  Repeat users? How Many times do you help?

    Posted 01-05-2022 07:56 AM
    Hi everyone- so now that our Pet Resource Center has been running for awhile, we are starting to see repeat users for some of our services. Of course food pantry has repeat users which is no problem. But what about advanced medical care? HW treatment? Etc?

    It seems like some folks keep getting new pets, but of course resources are limited, so how many times do you help one owner? Does anyone have any set limits/ thresholds?

    Looking forward to any feedback anyone can offer!
    #PetSupportServices*

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    Alexis Pugh
    Director, Memphis Animal Services
    www.memphisanimalservices.com

    Organizational Management
    & Pet Support Services Specialist
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  • 2.  RE: Repeat users? How Many times do you help?

    Posted 01-31-2022 05:59 PM
    Alexis,

     This is an awesome question as I encounter this quite often. My current role is Clinic Director and I lead a low cost cost clinic where do not turn people away because they do not have money so I am sure you can imagine how many people are repeat users.  What I have learned is that allowing clients to become repeat users  changes the situation from me helping the client to enable them so  I have stopped all repeat users.  After financial assistance has been given once, the clients are responsible to find alternate forms of payment such as care credit or scratchpay. I also talk to the clients and I say something like "while I would love to help you again free of cost our funding programs do not allow me to do that because there are so many people that need our help and so many lives to save and in order to do that it requires you to pay your bill so that I am able to help everyone in need".  I usually have pretty good success in  getting people to pay. The other thing I do is I do not ask clients " What can you afford to pay?" because that leaves room for them to say nothing. I usually get an estimate and tell the client what I will cover and what they have to come up with and I have had success with that method. I hope this helps you and I am happy to provide more info if need be.

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    Marissa Reid
    Clinic Director
    LifeLine Animal Project

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    Access To Care Specialist
    Clinic Management Specialist
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  • 3.  RE: Repeat users? How Many times do you help?

    Posted 02-01-2022 06:53 AM
    Thank you so much Marissa- I am going to share this with my team!

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    Alexis Pugh
    Director, Memphis Animal Services
    www.memphisanimalservices.com

    Organizational Management
    & Pet Support Services Specialist
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