7 reasons you should give away veterinary services

Accidents and illnesses happen. It's inescapable if you choose to care for other living beings. And for those of us who entered the veterinary profession to help animals, it's a common, heartbreaking situation to be asked for help from those who can't afford to pay for our services.

We all realize that not having the funds to pay doesn't change the need-it only compounds the despair of those who want to care and feel helpless (pet owners) and those who can help but feel entitled to compensation (we veterinarians). This leaves only bitterness on both sides.

If you're a veterinarian, you either turn a deaf ear to the request or find a way to help those in need at your expense. But if you ask me if there's a way to give away services for free, I say yes.

Here are seven ideas to barter for pet owners' time and effort instead of cash or credit so you don't give away everything for nothing:

A client made these cards for our team using scrapbook materials.

1. Ask for a scrapbook

Do you need help taking photos of team members' pets or your clinic pets? A client who owes you a favor can help by making a photo album for clients to peruse in the lobby.

My mom (left)-head clinic beautification expert-sits with our resident housekeeper, Karina Sandoval.

2. Find a groundskeeper

Your flower boxes at the clinic might need a makeover.

A client who gave you an IOU could volunteer to take over groundskeeping duties. I know one clinic whose local gardening expert sponsors the clinic, and in return the practice boasts the best landscaping in town.

If you hate mowing the lawn, you can task that duty to a client.

3. Get marketing help

If you struggle to maintain a consistent social media presence, a client could fill the gap for you. Is it a chore to interview a staff member for a Q&A, share a patient's story or help your clinic advertise its services?

A client who's short on cash could be flush with compelling ideas. Keeping up with daily tweets and Facebook posts is sometimes impossible. A client could also help post a few cute pet videos each week.

[Editor's note: It goes without saying that you or someone on your managing team needs to “vet” advertising, marketing or social media done on behalf of your practice before it goes live.]

A thoughtful card made by a client could help console another grieving client. 4. Recruit grief support

Sadly, veterinarians have to write many sympathy cards.

Even more concerning is the feeling that our clients may not have anyone to lean on during their grieving. A client could offer assistance to help those going through the most difficult times of their lives.

My mother made this painting for my practice. 5. Refresh your practice's decor

It's hard to spend less time in the exam room, but it's easy to improve the view.

Exchanging services with an artistic client can improve your clinic's aesthetics and brighten it up for team members and clients.

6. Get the munchies

A client (left) bringing in snacks boosted the morale of one of my technicians.Many days at the clinic are so busy that we don't have time for lunch-or even a snack.

We've just started to keep peanut butter, jelly, wheat bread and salad fixings on hand every day so team members can grab a quick bite on the run. We're also fortunate to have many clients who visit with yummy snacks.

Two of our favorite clients stop in weekly with bagels and muffins, and the greeting they receive when they walk in is equivalent to a ticker tape parade.

It's a guarantee we know their pets, and our staff makes sure their pets get whatever they need whenever they need it.

7. Encourage online reviews and thank-you notes

Collecting thank you cards can boost your practice's morale.You can't pay bills directly with either a boost in your practice's Yelp rating or a positive bump in your team members' morale, but both are valuable to your practice.

I believe in my practice's community of pet owners. I know that my clinic's success is woven into our ability to serve each client and patient as someone who matters to our viability. If I don't help foster my community of caregivers, I won't be able to provide care to those I started this journey to serve.

Our clinic's success is measured by both our bottom line and our ability to assuage the voice in our conscience that recognizes we're morally bound to help others, whether or not they can afford us.

Krista Magnifico, DVM, owns seven-doctor Jarrettsville Veterinary Center in Jarrettsville, Maryland, and is founder of Pawbly.com, which is a community dedicated to educating, inspiring and empowering people so they can take better care of their pet. This originally appeared as a blog at kmdvm.blogspot.com.