Martinez, CA (Dec. 3, 2014) – Pets in animal shelters have a new ally in their search for homes: veterinary dentists.
Thanks to the Foundation for Veterinary Dentistry’s “Make Me Smile Shelter Project,” shelter veterinarians and veterinary technicians nationwide will be receiving specialized training and equipment to help make sure homeless pets have dental exams and dental cleanings before they meet their new families.
“Animals with periodontal disease are extremely difficult to place for adoption,” says Foundation Chair Dr. Jamie Anderson, a veterinarian and member trustee. “Animals with healthy mouths are more appealing because their breath is sweeter, and because they’re healthier and feel better.”
The non-profit group is donating time, resources, equipment and expertise to train shelter veterinarians across the country with the goal of making the animals more adoptable. In the Bay Area, board-certified veterinary dentists and trustees will be equipping the Contra Costa County Animal Shelter with dental equipment and training their veterinary teams to rid resident pets of periodontal disease.
“We hope they’ll take the opportunity to meet some of the wonderful pets in the shelter, too,” said Make Me Smile Shelter Project Chair Barry L. Rathfon, DVM. “They’ll be seeing the difference dental cleanings can make in a pet’s life, and then making the biggest difference of all by adopting one of their own.”
About the Foundation for Veterinary Dentistry
The Foundation for Veterinary Dentistry operates exclusively for charitable, scientific, or educational purposes and was founded to educate the public about the importance of oral health in animals, and advance the understanding of the science of veterinary dentistry among all veterinarians and other veterinary professionals. For more information, visit the Foundation website at http://f4vd.com/.
The following information was provided by Contra Costa County Animal Services
