Veterinarian Robbie Asher Promotes ‘Health Watch’

By  //  July 18, 2013

South Animal Care Center

ABOVE VIDEO: The Brevard County Animal Services shelters have a program called “Pajama Pups.” If you are a Brevard County resident, you can check out a puppy for a night. Give a pup a break and a loving home for a night!

BREVARD COUNTY, FLORIDA — Brevard County Animal Services is offering a new way for the public to help keep shelter pets healthy and happy.

“We are likely already treating the animal if there’s an ongoing medical condition, but the public doesn't know that and are often concerned,“ Asher said. “Since I’m not always available, I want the public to have the opportunity to bring their concerns to our attention and know that we will take care of it.”(Shutterstock Image)
Brevard County Animal Services is offering a new way for the public to help keep shelter pets healthy and happy. (Shutterstock Image)

“This is a low-tech method for shelter visitors to communicate health concerns they have for animals they observe while in our facility,” Dr. Robbie Asher said.

This system is quick and easy. Old-fashioned mail boxes are hanging in the dog kennel area and near the cat rooms.

“If a shelter visitor observes a health concern with any animal, we want them to fill out a ‘Health Watch’ card that identifies the animal and the condition and put it in a mailbox,” Asher said.

“Then they put the flag up.”

Shelter staff will collect cards from the mail boxes for the doctor and her staff, who will evaluate the information and initiate medical care as needed.

ADOPT A NEW FAMILY MEMBER

“We are likely already treating the animal if there’s an ongoing medical condition, but they don’t know that and are often concerned,“ Asher said. “Since I’m not always available, I want the public to have the opportunity to bring their concerns to our attention and know that we will take care of it.”

As the shelter’s full-time veterinarian, Asher and her staff evaluate and treat all of the animals in the shelter. She gets lots of questions from visitors looking to adopt a new family member about various conditions they see as they meet and greet the animals.

“We are likely already treating the animal if there’s an ongoing medical condition, but they don’t know that and are often concerned,“ Asher said.

“Since I’m not always available, I want the public to have the opportunity to bring their concerns to our attention and know that we will take care of it.”

[gmarker marker_latitude=”” marker_longitud=”” marker_label=””] [/gmarker]

ABOVE MAP: Robbie Asher, doctor of veterinarian medicine, has rolled out a new program called “Health Watch” in the South Animal Care Center at 5100 W. Eau Gallie Boulevard in Melbourne.