How a Veterinary Hospital Can Help Make a Community Sustainable

Until earlier this spring, when I attended a land conservancy meeting, I had not really thought about the issue of a communities sustainability. Once you begin to ponder sustainability, you appreciate it is at the core of the survivability of any organism. It is a philosophical approach to the growth, development and maintenance of a community that could be applied just as easily to a living creature, a family unit, a regional economy, your own professional development or a country. Basically, in order for a community to be sustainable it has to have some very fundamental things like a healthy environment (clean water, clean air, etc), jobs, education, and infrastructure to support the jobs (government, good roads, community safety). 

However, to be truly sustainable a community needs more. It needs to be a place where people want to live. It needs to be the type of place where once you have grown up there you want to return to that place and raise your family, own a house and contribute back. The community needs people to continue to sustain the place that nurtured and nourished them when they were young. It also needs people to be drawn from other areas, because it is so desirable to live there. This is the most difficult aspect of being sustainable. However without jobs and roads, schools and good government, its almost impossible to focus on the less tangible issues like quality of life. Parks and recreation, wildlife preservation, festivals and fairs, art shows, museums, concerts and historical recognition events, all these things help promote our community by showcasing the things that are special in our villages and townships.They entertain those of us that live there and encourage others to consider visiting us more often or even moving to our community. 

Communities that care for  the less fortunate, the aged and the sick demonstrate kindness and empathy. Community outreach services, care of the less fortunate, and  efforts to support service organizations also create an environment of philanthropy that helps attract like minded people. These qualities aid in creating a sustainable community.

Sustainability is the name of the game for business owners as well. If the town that our business is located in cannot encourage new residents, new businesses, maintain infrastructure, or even keep the current inhabitants from moving, then the business will wither and die along with the community. 

Working to keep a community sustainable is not necessarily something that leads to remarkable immediate benefits. The efforts initiated in the present will reach far into the future, laying the ground work towards making our town more attractive, vibrant, and functional. Eventually the return for everyone involved can be significant.

So how does our little hospital help such a lofty cause? We are fortunate that we are located within a  very vibrant community and although we are in Michigan and near Detroit, parts of our community have found innovative ways of growing despite significant disadvantages. 

Like so many privately owned veterinary hospitals we do not have a large budget to devote to supporting community events, but we recognized we could begin by offering our time and our skills. We became members of the area chambers and supported them by attending their events. We joined two major service groups, the Rotary and Optimists. Both of these groups focus on improving the community. We also cared for any wildlife that we could. We either served as a conduit to a rehabilitation facility or we cared for them ourselves and released them. We all enjoy having a large wildlife population in our town and offering care to the injured aids in supporting everyones quality of life. Now we are fortunate to have a doctor that has advanced training in wildlife medicine and the management of exotic pets. One of the reasons she was attracted to our facility was because of our long history of stewardship to wildlife. 

When we can, we help sponsor things like the 4th of July fireworks show, art fairs and other festivals. Sometimes we have exhibits and provide information on pet safety and health care.

We have used our clinical skills and resources to help a local food pantry offer spays and neuters to their clients that cannot afford veterinary care. We have also made it our ‘pet’ project to help raise funds for the Pet Pantry so they can purchase dog and cat food and distribute it to families in need. We have had annual events like, Dogs Playing Poker and Santa Paws (photos with Santa) to raise awareness of the need and raise funds. 

Our hospital is starting a new initiative with Meals On Wheels. We are helping them distribute pet food to pet owners that can neither afford food nor have the mobility to seek additional services. These individuals rely heavily on that pets companionship. 

Our doctors have visited libraries, schools and career days with demonstrations about exotic pets or explaining what it is to be a veterinarian. We were the first veterinary hospital in the state and possibly the nation to distribute oxygen masks to local fire departments. 

It has taken years for us to establish contacts in the community and develop he programs we have in place. We now have other staff members that help in performing these outreach activities and they too have learned how enjoyable it is to give your time to the community and see the people and animals that benefit from their efforts. 

I think that one of the keys to a sustainable community and a thriving business is to act responsibly through volunteerism, utilization of your business skills to  benefit the community, and supporting public events. It does not necessarily have to be financially burdensome, nor does every member of your business have to participate. I am confident that when a business begins to work towards supporting its community’s sustainability, they both will thrive.