29 November 2014

AVC Lunch and Learn tour explores client experience and pet experience

Dr. Drew Van Niekerk
InfoStream Staff Writer 


This month I had the opportunity to travel to four Canadian Veterinary Schools and share a lunch and learn discussion about the ‘Experience Economy’ and how it relates to the veterinary industry. The Pet Experience discussion in the Alliance for Urban Animals has highlighted a need for dissemination of collaborative, simple and effective messaging to pet families and communities.  These messages need to be delivered from all sectors of the animal industry in mutual support of each of the other sectors. Often we become isolated in our activities within our sector of the industry, and fail to see our very important role in providing support to the entire animal industry.

Students are buried in heaps of detailed study on anatomy, physiology, medical and surgical disease management. It is important to be able to retract from the minutia to consider application in the broader context of service provision, and the growing demand of the pet owner to ‘connecting’ on a deeper level for animal care. These connections form the basis of trust and lead to more engaged and proactive pet family behaviours, benefiting the well-being of pets and health of communities.

Our students, animal industry professionals of the future, are extremely fortunate to have pet families demanding a deeper level of trust and connection than ever before. This level of trust has much stronger and long-lasting effects on the health and well-being of animals in communities than was ever possible in a past era of ‘pushing’ information and messaging about ‘responsible pet ownership’.  

It is indeed a pleasure to share these concepts with the young and fertile minds of tomorrow’s leaders.

No comments:

Post a Comment