Over the past few decades dogs and cats have increasingly become part of the family unit. Dogs and cats offer a wide variety of benefits for humans from companionship for the elderly or veterans, emotional support for families, teaching children responsibility and even specific services for people with disabilities. As pets deliver these benefits, they also come with responsibility and a lot of questions on how to care for them. Man owners have questions such as, “What do I feed them”, “What vaccines do they need”, “How will it affect my home owners insurance” or “How do I socialize them”. As veterinary offices are small businesses and struggle to be efficient and maximize the patience they can see, especially with the increase in pet ownership during the covid 19 pandemic, it is very difficult for the veterinarian to educate client on all husbandry and pet ownership information in the average 30 minute appointment. As the number of pets in the United States has increased and owners are viewing animals as part of the family, many new companies have developed foods or products that may not be good for the animals, yet marketed to appeal to owners who may not have the information. The education of what animals need, how to read pet food labels, what training is needed, what vaccines are recommended, what liability concerns pets bring to families may be difficult to find as that internet sources are not all reliable. As pets are brought into households, it must also be considered how it could affect the family or any human health concerns through zoonotic diseases. 

Dr. Jerusha Lay at Kentucky State University began a program to educate stakeholders on pet ownership. This program follows the traditional train the trainer model of extension. Trainings were open to county and regional Family Consumer Science Agents, 4H agents and Ag and Natural Resource agents. During the 2020-2021 year, Dr. Lay conducted 3 subject matter trainings for a total of 4.5 hours. The first training discuss the benefits and responsibilities of pet ownership, such as the human animal bond as well as the effects on homeowners, liability, cost and time of owning pets. The second training discussed feeds and feeding. Information about how to read and interpret pet food label, what the animal’s nutritional needs are and how to select the appropriate products. And the third training talked about common diseases and recommended vaccines. Rabies vaccine requirements and laws associated were also covered.  She also developed 6 Factsheets on information related to the trainings as well as a fact sheet about covid 19 and pets. 

The total number of agents attending subject matter trainings were 52 county professionals. County professionals were enthusiastic and able to take information covered in the trainings to promote health of pets and families, inform pet owners as consumers, and support stakeholders in underserved communities. As agents also developed information from information covered, multiple educational articles were dispersed through newsletters to local communities. Newsletters with information on pets were sent to approximately 100 stakeholders as well as put on multiple web sites for community access. 

Continuation of the program into the 2021-2022 year will include 3 additional trainings, 5 additional fact sheets. All training materials, powerpoints and factsheets will then be combined into a training manual for agents as a guide and reference for future program to stakeholders.