What is Fear Free Happy Homes?

What is Fear Free Happy Homes? Julie Reck, DVM, founder and owner of the Veterinary Medical Center of Fort Mill, South Carolina, explains.

“So, a Fear Free Happy Home that's a new program launched by Fear Free, and it's basically the direct consumer-facing informational platform. There's a lot coming down the pipeline, everything from a way to connect people in their local community to one another, there's a ton of information about mental enrichment and making sure we're creating the best homes possible—and the best environments in the homes possible. And then also, again, supporting it back and making sure clients understand and recognize the value of veterinary medicine and how the veterinarian is really the expert in pet care in general. So, it's really an exciting adventure on that part.

It's a membership that they would be enrolling in. So, my understanding is it's a very nominal fee that they'd be paying yearly, and then they have access to all the information on the Fear Free Happy Home site, as well as the community and kind of network-facing app. I know a lot of pet owners are always struggling with where's a great place for boarding and where is a great place for grooming? And this is really going to be a network connection and help pet parents realize who are also adopting Fear Free techniques. Making sure that trainer is on board with Fear Free, as well as the veterinarian, as well as the groomer, because it will really take a network of communities to make this big difference in reducing fear, anxiety, and stress in pets.”