Committing to a Lifelong Relationship

 There are good intentions, and then there are good deeds. When it comes to raising a pet, good intentions just don’t cut it. Our pets thrive only because of the attention we give them, and the effort and time we invest in them. As much as we encourage and support pet ownership, veterinarians also recognize that pet owners need to be aware that pets of all types come with responsibilities.

As part of our ongoing efforts to support the human-animal bond, we are pleased to provide you with the AVMA’s newly created responsible pet ownership guidelines. The inspiration came from AVMA members who expressed an interest in having easy-to-read guidelines that can be handed out to clients, particularly new pet owners, or conveniently hung on a clinic wall. Volunteers from our Committee on the Human-Animal Bond developed the content, and then we turned to staff members in our Communications and Animal Welfare divisions to create materials that are both pet-owner friendly and encouraging of pet ownership.

We invite you to download the guidelines . You can also check out other pet ownership resources on our website. Feel free to share whatever you’d like. The more we can spread the word, the better off our pets will be.