Accreditations & Certifications

Fear Free Certification

We understand a trip to the vet can be full of stress and fear for your pet. Members of our team are Fear Free Certified, which means we are highly trained in gentle handling techniques, modifying clinic procedures to keep fear out of the exam room, and adjusting our facility to incorporate fear-free practices. Essentially, we go out of our way to make your pet comfortable and happy when they visit us.

Additionally, we take certain approaches to ensure your pet is comfortable. A few ways we help decrease fear include avoiding cold, slick surfaces by providing yoga mats or towels on our exam tables, having an exam room ready to minimize time spent in the waiting room, avoiding eye contact with your pet, using treats like peanut butter throughout the visit, and even providing anti-anxiety medication or other calming supplements to keep car rides more enjoyable.

In order for veterinary professionals to become Fear Free Certified, the hospital’s leadership, culture, facilities, patient visits, client education, and staff training are evaluated, reviewed and approved for Fear Free practice. A lot of thought and effort go into acquiring the Fear Free Certification, and we are proud to practice Fear Free for our clients at New Hope Veterinary Hospital.

Low Stress Handling Certification

We are committed to providing a consistent low-stress environment for all pets. At New Hope Veterinary Hospital, our facility is designed for a low-stress veterinary experience. Each member of our staff has been trained on low stress handling techniques that will help your pet to feel comfortable during their visit.

A few examples of these techniques include:

1. Recognizing behavioral signs of fear, anxiety or stress in pets and adjusting their approach to handling animals.
2. Understanding our facility and how smells, sounds, surfaces, and sights can contribute to stress in pets.
3. Learning the five different methods for handling dogs from the rear, including the seven methods for safely controlling them from the front.
4. Identifying how each individual reaction with a pet can affect its stress level, perception of the situation, and willingness to cooperate.