Australian hospital is the first Fear Free certified veterinary practice in the Oceania region

Photo: mizina/Adobe Stock

Avoca Drive Animal Hospital in Erina, New South Wales, Australia has become the first veterinary practice in Australia, and in the Oceania region, to achieve Fear Free Veterinary Practice Certification.1 The certification signifies the work put in by Avoca Drive Animal Hospital to ensure their facility is a Fear Free environment for their patients.

“Having drilled down to what drove us to become veterinarians in the first place—seeing pets healthy and happy—it seemed clear that there was a significant component missing in our veterinary curriculum: animal emotional wellbeing,” Elizabeth O’Connor, BVSc, founder and owner of Avoca Drive Animal Hospital, said in a news release.¹ “Fear Free has provided the support and training needed to bring this considerate approach to many more veterinary professionals, and for that, I am profoundly grateful.

“Achieving this milestone of being Australia’s first fully Fear Free Certified Veterinary Practice means the world to us,” O’Connor continued.¹ “It strengthens our bond as a team, connects us to our mission, and aligns us with clients who deeply care about their pets’ emotional wellbeing.”

Avoca Drive Animal Hospital followed the standard Fear Free procedure to receive their certification. They began by enrolling in the certification program, ensuring each member of their team became individually Fear Free certified, while working to incorporate all 36 mandatory standards into their workflows and patient care protocols. The hospital then underwent a thorough assessment of their facilities, protocols, and team dynamics, whereby the Fear Free team ensured that the experiences of all patients would be meet the program’s standards.¹

“The certification of Avoca Drive Animal Hospital is a significant step forward for Fear Free and the veterinary community in Australia,” Randy Valpy, CEO of Fear Free, said.¹ “By becoming the first Fear Free Certified Veterinary Practice in the country, Avoca Drive is enhancing patient care and inspiring other practices in the Oceania region to adopt Fear Free methods.”

Founded in 2016 by Marty Becker, DVM, Fear Free provides online education to veterinary professionals, animal care professionals, animal welfare communities, and pet owners on the emotional wellbeing and enrichment, and the reduction of fear, anxiety, and stress in animals.² “A pet cannot be optimally healthy unless they are happy,” Becker said.¹ “Fear Free uses clinically proven protocols to mitigate fear, anxiety, and stress triggers, ensuring pets feel safe and calm during their veterinary visits. The achievement by Avoca Drive Animal Hospital exemplifies our mission and underscores the transformative impact Fear Free practices have on pet care.”

The announcement of Avoca Drive Animal Hospital’s certification comes as part of a worldwide movement of veterinary practices adopting Fear Free methodology. To date, there are Fear Free Certified practices in the US, Canada, the UK, the UAE, and now Australia.^1,3-5 Additionally, there are practices currently working on their certifications in Guam, India, Denmark, Scotland, New Zealand, Lithuania, Germany, and China, according to Valpy.

Becker credits Henry Yoo, DVM, as Fear Free’s director of the Pacific Rim. Yoo is leading Fear Free’s expansion to Asia, with plans to discuss Fear Free practices in Seoul, South Korea. Since Fear Free’s launch, veterinary staff and pet professionals in 120 countries have registered for their Fear Free Certification.

“No matter what continent, country, or community your veterinary practice is located [in], you never entered veterinary care to make life worse for animals,” Becker said in an email. “Quite the opposite. You wanted to help animals live happier, healthier, fuller lives… When you focus on both physical and emotional wellbeing with Fear Free, we take the ‘pet’ out of ‘petrified,’ and put the ‘treat’ into ‘treatment.’ Animals can look forward to a veterinary visit, and pet parents look forward to taking them.”

References

1. Avoca Drive Animal Hospital Becomes First Fear Free Certified Veterinary Practice in Australia. News release. Fear Free, LLC. August 20, 2024. Accessed August 21, 2024. https://www.prweb.com/releases/avoca-drive-animal-hospital-becomes-first-fear-free-certified-veterinary-practice-in-australia-302226120.html
2. What is Fear Free? Fear Free. Accessed August 21, 2024. https://fearfreepets.com/about/what-is-fear-free/
3. Toronto’s Downtown Animal Hospital Is First Fear Free Certified Veterinary Practice in Canada. News release. Fear Free. April 23, 2018. Accessed August 21, 2024. https://fearfreepets.com/torontos-downtown-animal-hospital-first-fear-free-certified-veterinary-practice-canada/#:~:text=We%20are%20extremely%20proud%20to,better%20physical%20health%20care%2C%20too.
4. Fear Free Pets Announces Expansion into the United Kingdom with Harrison Family Vets. News release. Fear Free. October 17, 2023. Accessed August 21, 2024. https://www.prweb.com/releases/fear-free-pets-announces-expansion-into-the-united-kingdom-with-harrison-family-vets-301955894.html
5. German Veterinary Clinic Achieves Fear Free Certification: A First in the United Arab Emirates. News release. Fear Free. July 2, 2024. Accessed August 21, 2024. https://www.prweb.com/releases/german-veterinary-clinic-achieves-fear-free-certification-a-first-in-the-united-arab-emirates-302186597.html