Connecticut Veterinarian Launches Nationwide Effort to "Protect the Pets"

Dr. John Robb launches nationwide movement to make positive changes in animal care, promoting high quality care that values pets over profits; builds network of veterinarian professionals and online community.

NEW FAIRFIELD, Conn. (PRWEB) September 21, 2006 -- Dr. John Robb, an experienced and respected Connecticut veterinarian, has launched Protect the Pets - a nationwide network of veterinarian medicine practitioners, pet owners and animal lovers committed to making a positive change in animal care, promoting high quality care that values pets over profits.

Dr. Robb believes that when profitability becomes the dominant influence in the decisions of a veterinary practice, the health and safety of animals is compromised and pets are put in peril. Protect the Pets seeks to raise public awareness about the realities of unsafe veterinary medicine and to inspire veterinary professionals to practice according to the values that drew them to animal medicine in the first place.    

“A few years ago, I faced a crisis of conscience about how I was practicing veterinary medicine,” says Dr. Robb. “It was one of those ‘if not me, who?’ moments. So I took up the challenge to transform our profession.” Dr. Robb sold his practice and put his own financial future on the line to fund the launch of Protect the Pets.

Protect the Pets will work to educate the public, recruit like-minded animal health practitioners and create a clear choice in the marketplace for people seeking pet-safe, trustworthy care. Dr. Robb is reaching out to veterinarians from around the country to join this mission. Member veterinarians must pledge to practice according to the Protect the Pets Code of Conduct. Sample tenets of the code include:

• I will treat all pets and wildlife in my practice with compassion and respect.
• I will treat all people associated with my practice with respect: my patients, my staff, my customers and my colleagues, salespeople and wildlife rehabilitators.
• I will research the latest pain management drugs and treatments so that no pet suffers needlessly.
• I will always conduct the financial business of my practice in a lawful and ethical way.

Adds Dr. Robb, “I believe this should be a grassroots movement. That’s why we’ve included recruitment materials on our website so pet-owners can invite their own vets to sign-up.”

Veterinarians who join will receive a packet of branded promotional materials to help spread the word about their membership to their local communities, and support becoming a successful Protect the Pets practice.

“This isn’t an either/or proposition,” assures Dr. Robb. “I have proven with my own practice that it is possible to run both a pet-safe and highly profitable operation.”

Currently, Dr. Robb is seeking 150 pioneering veterinarians to get Protect the Pets off the ground and has already secured over 20 member veterinarians. For more information about membership, the benefits of being a Protect the Pets practice and how you can support the Protect the Pets mission, visit www.protectthepets.com.

About Dr. John Robb
Dr. John Robb has been practicing veterinarian medicine for over twenty years. Throughout his career, he has held an unwavering commitment to pets over profits. He has experienced first-hand the toxic effect of the drive for productivity and profitability on animal care. His unwillingness to observe the unspoken “rules” among veterinarians that emphasize protecting the vet over protecting the pet, has earned him the love and respect of pet owners. While some in the industry want to silence him, he has become a voice and a leader for the majority of animal care professionals who want to live their passion and provide the very best in care to our animal companions.

Press: Laura Newman
203.374.2125

###