Lately, we’ve been hearing stories of veterinary practice managers and owners making departing staff feel guilty for finding a better job. After a team member puts in their notice, they then face a barrage of guilt-inducing blame and judgment, further eroding their self confidence and assertiveness. But it doesn’t end there.

Hosts Beckie Mossor, RVT and Dr. Ernie Ward also share their concerns about the rapidly approaching holiday season and the impact "holiday time off" may have on our already overwhelmed teams' morale, productivity, and patient care. Ho, ho, hold on for this one, Viewfinders!

This week our hosts discuss the importance of respectfully and professionally handling an employee leaving their job for another, and why exit interviews may, “help you save the rest,” as Dr. Ward puts it.

The pair also tackle the topic of holiday time off and each share real-time vacation dilemmas they are hearing from veterinary colleagues around the country. Beckie advises, “Get ahead of your holiday planning now!” We explain…

Viewfinders, once again we cover A LOT of territory in this half-hour conversation. Share your thoughts by email or direct message!

There’s no shortage of veterinary job listings these days. As competition for veterinary professionals heats up, are some of these employment ads potentially misleading or misrepresenting their workplace reality? We tackle that tough topic and job search woes in this episode! Plus, we give our thoughts on creating better, more truthful job postings and why making employees your top priority is the best strategy of all! Viewfinders, hang on to your noggin’ for this one!

Hosts Beckie Mossor, RVT and Dr. Ernie Ward discuss the recent escalation in the appealing language and messages in veterinary job ads. The pair offer advice to applicants seeking to sift through the fluff and get to the truth.

Our hosts also share several recent stories of vets and vet techs who discovered a new hire was being paid more than established staff, and the impact that had on team morale.

Dr. Ward revisits his experience and philosophy on his switch in the 1990’s to paying staff much more than “industry standards” and how that move affected both revenue and quality of life for him and his team.

Beckie stresses the importance of protective the title of “veterinary technician” in employment listings and how to handle a boss or manager not playing fair with pay and benefits.

Viewfinders, we hope these tough conversations continue to spark change within the veterinary profession. We had a blast recording this episode and would love to hear from you!

A recent pet parent survey found that 47% experienced “separation anxiety while away from their pets.” 76% of respondents claimed their dog suffered from anxiety behaviors while they were away. In addition to these stats, there’s been a growing number of media stories examining “the high cost of veterinary care,” and increased requests to “return” or relinquish adopted “pandemic pets.” This week we explore the interconnectedness of these stories and how we can help as veterinary professionals.

Hosts Dr. Ernie Ward and Beckie Mossor, RVT review a spat of news stories that describe current challenges faced by pet parents. From fears of leaving pets alone when returning to work post-pandemic, to financial challenges of veterinary care, and how some animal shelters are responding to requests to relinquish pets, this episode tackles a LOT of tough topics our profession is facing in late 2021.

Our hosts offer steps every veterinary clinic can take to address complaints about money, initiating conversations about behavioral issues, and how to help pet parents worried about leaving their pets at home. And MUCH more!

Viewfinders, how are you handling separation anxiety worries with your clients? Are you hearing complaints about cost of care? What about the return of “pandemic pets” to shelters? We’d love to hear your experiences!

This week co-host Beckie Mossor, RVT reports to us from the Western Veterinary Conference (WVC) in Las Vegas, Nevada where there’s a lot of talk about the big veterinary corporations and pet retailers and the impact they’re having throughout the profession (spoiler: a couple are engaged in a battle of lawsuits amongst other issues).

Co-host Dr. Ernie Ward talks with Beckie from deep within his home podcast bunker and the pair muse on how quickly changes are happening in the pet and veterinary industries as we (hopefully) begin to see a little post-pandemic light ahead. Well, at least a few in-person veterinary conferences are happening, so there’s that.

Beckie and Ernie discuss the lessons veterinary professionals can learn from some of the more well-organized (and funded) large corporate practices and pet retailers, and what independent practices can do to remain competitive for staff.

Beckie drops gems such as “veterinary technicians are going over you or with you” and “ride not resist” when it comes to positive changes, while Dr. Ward applauds veterinary technicians and support staff for standing up for self-care, mental health support, and better working conditions.

Viewfinders, there’s a lot to unpack from this trip to Vegas! We’d love to hear your thoughts. Don’t forget to stop by your favorite podcast player and drop a brief 5-star review! It helps so much! Thanks and we’ll talk to you next week!

During the past 18 months, nearly every veterinary practice has experienced unprecedented demands and challenges. Throw in the reality of an historically-tight job market, with few available veterinarians and vet techs to go around, and you’ve got even more problems. These difficulties have caused considerable professional (and personal) burnout, with many colleagues not knowing how they could possibly take a break. That’s where relief (or locus) veterinary staff could help heal your practice ills.

Hosts Dr. Ernie Ward and Beckie Mossor, RVT are joined by Dr. Cindy Trice, Founder of Relief Rover, an online service that connect veterinary clinics with relief help.

Dr. Trice shares how she started in relief work, what led to the formation of ReliefRover.com, and how impactful leveraging relief staff can be for an overworked team.

Viewfinders, you know we’re compactly lamenting the fact that you’re overworked, underpaid, and under appreciated. Here’s a solution we think could help you (at least) get a break to recharge your spirit (and body, relationships, etc.).

What have your experiences with relief vets or vet techs been? Is this something you think would help your clinic? Share your thoughts (and a 5-star review) over on Apple Podcasts or our social media! Thank you!

DOOBERT! Doobert! So fun to say, we had to say it twice! So what is it?

This week we sit down with the Founder of Doobert.com, Chris Roy. Doobert is “an online software platform custom-built for animal rescuers. It’s like a combination of Match.com specifically for animal shelters and rescues to find new partners, and then a volunteer Uber for getting the animals where they need to go.” You’re gonna want to listen to this one!

Hosts Dr. Ernie Ward and Beckie Mossor, RVT learn all about the innovative Doobert platform that connects animal rescue volunteers or “Dooberteers” to transport shelter pets across town or across country. This “pet rescue relay” is super cool and saving lives!

Viewfinders, we hope this inspiring ray of goodness warms your week! Thank you to Chris and all the Dooberteers for helping those that can not help themselves. Bravo!

Visit www.doobert.com to learn more or volunteer to help.

Veterinary practices around the country are reporting high numbers of veterinary staff failing (or bailing) on interviews or even work. Is “ghosting” or saying nothing becoming the new way to say, “No”? This week we discuss.

Hosts Dr. Ernie Ward and Beckie Mossor, RVT discuss the concerning trend of veterinary job applicants “ghosting” veterinary practices during the hiring process. Is this really a thing? If so, why? And what can we do to improve communications during interview and hiring?

The duo tackle the reasons why “ghosting” may be on the rise, the role social media may be having on the acceptance or failing to follow-through, and the impacts this behavior may have in the short- and long-terms. As Beckie shares, “Do you want guilt in the short-term or resentment in the long-term?” We explore.

Viewfinders, is “ghosting” jobs becoming accepted? What affects may “no shows” have on existing staff? What happens to the future job prospects for folks who “ghost” veterinary clinics? So much to talk about this episode!

Viewfinders, we’d love to hear your thoughts! Share with us on social media or email veterinaryviewfinder@gmail.com And thanks for not ghosting us for the past (nearly) 5 years!

Burnout. Debt. Suicide. These are some of the topics closely associated with the veterinary profession in 2021. But are these negative narratives hurting our appeal to the next generation of veterinary professionals? This week we discuss the current public perceptions of veterinary medicine and how we can change them for the better.

Hosts Dr. Ernie Ward and Beckie Mossor, RVT tackle the topic of how an onslaught of negative news about veterinary professionals may be influencing - and perhaps curtailing - the future of our profession.

The pair discuss burnout, student debt, suicide and depression, title protection, (dis)organized veterinary medicine, and a whole lot more during this episode.

Viewfinders, this is another wide-ranging conversation about a topic we think deserves more attention and action from our colleagues. Share your thoughts with us online or email us at veterinaryviewfinder@gmail.com

The real “gold medalist” of the Tokyo Olympics may be mental health. Simone Biles and Novak Djokovic each brought their own “twist” on how we can “smash” false perceptions about pressure, anxiety, depression, and other mental health challenges faced by elite athletes and, yes, even veterinary professionals. (You'll have to listen to find out the meaning of those puns!) Viewfinders, this is a good one!

Hosts Dr. Ernie Ward and Beckie Mossor, RVT review the very different repossess to Simone Biles withdrawal from some of her Olympic competitions due to personal concerns about her mental health and the “twisties.” Beckie shares her experience with the “twisties” as a prior gymnastics coach and why it’s a particularly dangerous, and largely inexplicable, condition.

The pair reflect on comments made by tennis star Novak Djokovic about Biles and her mental health revelations. They also compare and contrast how Biles rose to compete again with Djokovic’s on-court tantrum and quitting the mixed doubles competition just before he and his partner’s Bronze medal match. We couldn’t have scripted a more timely and relevant large-scale example to spark a mental health discussion in veterinary medicine.

Viewfinders, this episode serves as an excellent backdrop for you and your team to begin a wellness and self-care journey toward better mental health. We worry that our profession inadvertently continues to reward and promote the “tough it out” and “just get over it” attitudes toward mental and physical health through our actions, social media posts, and treatment of those who speak out in support or need. We can do better than our current systems of “burned out in 5 years” that seems pervasive in 2021.

Viewfinders, what do you think about the discussion around the Olympics and mental health? Are there lessons veterinary medicine can benefit from? How are you having these conversations in your clinic? Share your stories on our social media!

What happens when veterinary team members have pets in need of expensive veterinary care? Do they make payments to their clinic over time? Does their clinic have a limit on outstanding debt? Do co-workers judge each other based on care decisions or running up high bills at the clinic? What happens if the employee leaves? Does a veterinary employee’s ability to “put it on my bill” influence our perception and expectations on our client’s ability or willingness to pay for their pet’s veterinary care? So many tough money questions this week, Viewfinders!

Hosts Dr. Ernie Ward and Beckie Mossor, RVT dip back into the tough topics of money, finances, and debt in the veterinary profession. This week the pair explore the impact of costly veterinary care from a veterinary professional’s perspective.

Topics covered include how a clinic handles a team member with debt, payment options, potential influence on team dynamics, and a variety of “hard lessons learned.”

Viewfinders, this is one of those topics we believe needs further evaluation by our profession. As Becky always says, “Get ahead of this one!”

Viewfinders, how does your clinic handle employee “bills” or delayed payments? Do you have a limit on how much you can “charge?” Do you think this topic impacts our expectations from pet parents? We want to hear from you!

To see Dr. Ward’s video, “WHY DON'T VETERINARIANS TREAT ANIMALS FOR FREE?” Click here: https://youtu.be/3aEiOfLDtgE

And don’t forget to give us a 5-star review on Apple Podcasts It helps us reach more of our friends and colleagues!

Each week it seems we learn of another natural disaster related to, caused, or worsened by climate change: wildfires, hurricanes, heat waves, mudslides, drought, flood - you name it. And these disasters affect veterinary professionals and pet parents around the world.

Hosts Dr. Ernie Ward and Beckie Mossor, RVT discuss how veterinary clinics can prepare for disasters and interruptions caused by a variety of emergency situations. They also explore veterinary professionals' responsibilities to our communities and how we can help ease anxiety in our clients should an emergency occur.

The pair also offer advice on training for other emergencies such as robberies, workplace violence, and clients in peril.

Viewfinders, this is another example of how a little preparation can go a long way in helping others.

If you’d like to help the Port Royal Veterinary Hospital mentioned in the podcast, check out the South Carolina Association of Veterinary Technicians (SCAVT) or their GoFundMe at gofund.me/61147fc2

Viewfinders, how are you preparing for natural disasters? Do you have emergency plans in place? Has your clinic been affected by a catastrophe? Share your tips and stories on our social media.

Recently, a very popular North Carolina TikTok star who keeps and “wrangles” venomous cobras in his parent’s basement, lost a cobra while taking it outside in his backyard. For nearly a week, his neighborhood was terrorized by the fear of waking up to a cobra in their house. The cobra was eventually found in a neighbor’s yard and safely captured. It could’ve ended much worse. And this is only one example of the world of exotic animals on TikTok.

Hosts Dr. Ernie Ward and Beckie Mossor, RVT explore the popularity of social media channels devoted to exotic, and sometime dangerous, animal ownership. The pair tackle what is driving this fascination, what should veterinary professionals do if they see this type of content, and is this creating an increase in exotic animal ownership?

From venomous snakes, spiders, rare mammals, fish, big cats, and more, social media is full of folks showing off their animals. Dr. Ward expresses his genuine concern for these animal’s welfare and why veterinary professionals should “get in front of this trend.”

Beckie shares several exotic animal stories from social media that she’s seeing and steps to encourage responsible animal care.

Viewfinders, this is another hot topic that we think more veterinary professionals need to be talking about. What do you think about these TikTok stars gaining fame (and fortune) keeping exotic animals? What do you think the veterinary profession should do to safeguard animal welfare and public safety? Share your thoughts on our social media!