PHILOSOPHY

Why are we different?

At AWRC, we understand that your pet is a member of your family. As such, you want the best medical care, and you deserve to understand all of the options available to you. We spend time getting to know you and your pet so we can work together to figure out which treatments will work best for your pet’s personality and your lifestyle. We also spend time explaining what is happening and will provide written treatment options for you to take home and discuss with the rest of your family so that the best decision can be made.

We are working towards becoming “Fear Free” certified, and our facility was designed with these principles in mind. There are separate cat and dog wings in the building, each with their own entrance, waiting area, exam rooms, treatment spaces, and hospital room. The floors are a finished concrete product that provide some traction to prevent animals from sliding when they walk. They are exceptionally cleanable. We have added multiple features to decrease noise, and have kept “noisy” areas away from patient areas. The “Fear Free” philosophy extends past design concepts into staff training. We work hard to incorporate low stress handling techniques and take the time to work with an anxious patient, offering treats, praise, and love to help them accept the new situation and not develop fear from it.

Our staff have memberships in the American Animal Hospital Association and American Association of Feline Practitioners. We are also working to earn the titles of AAHA- accreditation and Feline- Friendly practice. These organizations hold an animal hospital to a higher degree of standards, and hospitals are inspected regularly to ensure that they are in compliance with these rigorous standards. Another way we protect our patients and staff is by providing a separate entrance and dedicated isolation space for exam and treatment of sick patients. The room is separate from other patient areas and has a separate ventilation system to prevent the spread of disease to other parts of the hospital. We have strict cleaning requirements in this space, as well as in the rest of the hospital. Our surgery suite is the cleanest space in the hospital. It is also isolated and has its own ventilation system to ensure that the air is clean and dust is controlled.

As members of the American Holistic Veterinary Medical Association, we strive to uphold holistic cleaning practices even in a hospital situation. Our cleaning products are tough on germs, but do not pose a threat to the respiratory system, skin, or leave a residue on surfaces. We are very proud of this method.