Campaign #1: Bring stakeholders to the table.
Why? To improve the health of veterinary patients.
The goal: Establish CAVSNET (companion animal veterinary surveillance network) in the United States. Partner with the CAVSNET Pilot Program at the University of Minnesota which began in July of 2019. A pilot based on SAVSNET, a successful veterinary surveillance network pioneered at the University of Liverpool UK more than 11 years ago which continues to provide practitioners and researchers with data that advances veterinary science and health outcomes in companion animals.
Digital Infrastructure…
Monitor trends in:
- Emerging Pathogens
- Cancer
- Antimicrobial Resistance
- Animal Abuse/Opioid Use
- Zoonotic Pathogens
About Bark to be Heard
One year after surgery, I was forced to amputate my dog’s leg because of a multi-drug-resistant-infection. I believe that had a surveillance network existed, the veterinarians treating Mr. Beebs could have viewed the latest data on the treatment of infectious disease, but especially for those pathogens that are highly resistant. Bark to Be Heard is a non-profit organization that seeks to facilitate whatever tools are necessary to prevent suffering.
The inspiration behind Bark to Be Heard
Meet the Founder, Lori Nicholson
ONE WOMAN, ONE DOG, ONE MISSION
In 2011, at the age of fifty-two, she graduated valedictorian from Southern Connecticut State University. Her education and bachelor’s degree in political science was inspired by her dog, Mr. Beebs, who’s the reason she wrote the book, Mr. Beebs and the song and motion graphics project called Thank God for Dogs.
In February 2017, Lori founded a pet owners’ consumer group called Bark to Be Heard. Since then she has been in contact with veterinary researchers/epidemiologist at Purdue University, the Center for Disease Control and Prevention in Atlanta, the University of Liverpool UK, University of London, Stanford University, the University of Minnesota, the University of Connecticut, Kansas State University and RTI International.
Listen to Who’s Barking!
We are the millions of pets owners/consumers of pet products and services in these United States. We urge our veterinary practitioners to embrace CAVSNET because our companion animals are the direct beneficiaries of better data, and “Data Saves Lives.” Shared data aids research, drug development and treatment options. Veterinary surveillance networks such as SAVSNET and VetCompass have existed in the UK for over 10 years and afforded practitioners, researchers and public health officials “real time” access to data. The time has come, for veterinary practitioners in the United States to ride the information highway that is necessary for great pet care in the 21st century. Sharing is caring.