Urban communities in North America are fortunate to have access to trusted veterinary professionals who provide animals with care, including vaccinations, spay and neuter surgeries, and more. While veterinarians are known to make an impact across communities large and small, offering this valuable care to pets in more remote areas can be challenging–yet vital–work to maintain the balance between healthy animals, people and the planet in the places that need it most.
With roots in veterinary medicine, a One Health approach champions holistic solutions with a lens of interconnectedness. Veterinarians, community members, organizations, and more must work together to positively impact these underserved populations, especially in times of disaster, like the recent U.S. hurricanes. Recognizing these challenges, Veterinarians Without Borders North America (VWB) established the Northern Animal Health Initiative (NAHI), which helps build community-driven partnerships, provide sustainable veterinary care and share knowledge, garnering many key learnings applicable across regions.
Common barriers to veterinary care for remote communities
Many obstacles, including travel, cost, and scarcity make it hard for pet guardians to get access to veterinary care. At times, some communities may only be accessible by plane, and prices of goods are often higher than in urban areas. Barriers to veterinary care in remote communities are also brought to light quickly during emergencies and natural disasters, with many organizations traveling to provide response, resources, and relief. Veterinarians and other volunteers are brought in to assist with pet evacuations, boarding facilities and more, during or after an event has occurred.
While it is encouraged for every pet guardian to have an emergency pet preparedness checklist and evacuation plan, support teams often see pets get left behind and need to pull together resources to provide care in the interim. During the Maui, Hawaii wildfires, VWB teamed up with the Maui Humane Society to assist in their emergency response, leading local field teams and providing immediate relief efforts for companion animals. VWB supported the Maui Humane Society through emergency temporary boarding efforts for displaced animals, preparing for an influx of medical needs, setting up a hotline for animal guardians in need and trying to reconnect with their pets, and organizing essential supplies for disbursement.
How veterinarians can support remote communities
As each remote community has different needs, it is important to work closely with representatives and leadership to identify concerns and priorities to build an effective plan. Many times, the plan includes offering temporary veterinary clinics with a team of volunteers, which includes vaccinations against deadly diseases, spay and neuter surgeries, and consultations with pet guardians and their animals. Although diseases such as rabies may not be a common threat to urban households, remote communities are often at an increased risk.
