Fear Less, Wag & Purr More

Understanding the Fear Free philosophy

By Dr. Sarah J. Cutler

Artwork by Valeria Raymond

We’ve come a long way in how we treat our pets. Over the past few decades, we’ve raised the standards and awareness about how pets are treated in the veterinary setting, at home, during grooming and in training.

The Fear Free philosophy was created to train veterinary professionals, pet professionals, animal welfare communities and pet owners how to reduce fear, anxiety and stress in pets. It was also designed to educate pet owners on species-specific behavior, helping owners better meet their pets’ needs when setting up their home, creating a schedule, and determining how they interact with their pets.

In practice

Every species is unique. For example, many cats are fearful at the smell, sight or sound of dogs. To help reduce stress, vet hospitals can offer appointments at times of day when feline patients aren’t in the waiting room with canine patients, and/or their owners can bring them directly to a quiet exam room. For cats and dogs, veterinary hospitals can help animals by reducing noise, providing nonslippery flooring, dimming lights, being aware of strong chemical scents, and refining their handling. Plus, vets and technicians can talk to their clients about terms such as “cooperative care,” “fear free,” “force free,” “gentle care,” “low stress handling” and “happy visits.”

Additionally, many dogs and cats become fearful when subjected to excessive restraint or forceful handling, so it should be avoided when providing medical care. It’s also important for pet parents to learn how to hold, handle and train their pets without using force.

South Salem resident Melissa Goble used to struggle with getting her Bernese mountain dogs to the vet, but everything changed once she changed her overall approach. “I didn’t really know I needed these kinds of approaches until I was trying to help my large, nervous dog with trainers and vet care,” she remembers. “I had used two trainers who relied on forceful techniques, and my dog became even more anxious and aggressive.” Once she found a trainer and a vet who specialized in more modern and humane techniques, she was able to better understand her dog’s needs. “Living through these experiences and witnessing the trainer’s and vet’s successes opened my eyes to these approaches.”

This gentle approach also applies to the not-so-domesticated pets, regardless of their size. Dr. Laurie Hess, DVM, Diplomate ABVP and owner/medical director of Veterinary Center for Birds & Exotics in Bedford Hills (AAHA accredited), says two-thirds of her patients are prey species (birds, rabbits, hamsters, chinchillas, etc.), which are easily threatened by human interactions, especially those who are fragile or pocket-sized.

Hess’ specialized staff includes four veterinarians dedicated to small mammals, avian medicine (a specialized field in veterinary medicine for birds) and surgery. Treating their patients requires an extremely gentle manner and finesse. And they must achieve this with minimal handling and as little interaction with the pet as possible. In fact, sometimes, they don’t even touch the patient. Like other vet hospitals, they provide a quiet and calm environment with privacy, barriers and places for patients to burrow or hide.

The human benefits 

It turns out everyone benefits when pets are not in a high state of fear and anxiety. Lucy Weizenecker, the hospital manager at Somers Animal Hospital (AAHA accredited), oversees a busy, four-doctor, state-of-the-art small animal hospital that provides wellness exams, vaccines, advanced diagnostics and complex surgical procedures. She says these low-stress approaches are essential for everyone. “We believe a visit to our hospital should be as enjoyable as possible—for pets and their pet parents,” Weizenecker says. “When pets are calm, their owners and our staff are calm as well. We know the vet can be stressful, especially if your pet is sick. That’s why we focus on taking fear out of the equation; it’s beneficial to everyone.”

 If a low-stress veterinary environment is still high-stress for the pet and the parent, trainers can teach pet parents how to use positive reinforcement, such as toys, treats, praise or clickers to help create a more relaxed experience from the time everyone leaves the home until they return.

But if nothing works, and even the car ride is a stressful experience for everyone, in-home veterinary care may be a solution. “Fear-free is the premise behind our house call veterinary practice,” says Dr. Julie Slavin, DVM, founder of Visiting Veterinary Practice of Westchester. “House calls provide medical care in the comfort and familiarity of a pet’s home, reducing the stress and anxiety often triggered by car rides, unfamiliar clinic environments and the presence of other animals. For some pets, home visits lead to more accurate assessments, better compliance and a stronger bond between the veterinary team and the patient.”

These cooperative care methods also benefit larger animals, along with the humans who care for them. When done properly, zoo animals, even the very large (and strong) ones, can sometimes receive a full exam without chemical sedation. For example, trainers have used positive reinforcement to get hyenas to extend their legs for blood draws and giraffes to step on scales, and they’ve even had hippos open their mouths for a dental exam.

“When I learned how to train zoo animals, the priority wasn’t ‘obedience,’ like it was in the dog world,” says Ferdie Yau, MA, CPDT-KA, an animal trainer and wildlife biologist who has worked in Westchester County since 2009. “It was about helping the animals feel safe and respected, making it easier and less stressful to give them top-quality medical care.”

“I think your whole perspective on training completely shifts when your top priority is the physical and mental health of your pet rather than obedience and control,” Yau continues. “People say they would do anything to keep their pets happy and healthy, yet most pet owners don’t pay nearly as much attention to their pet’s body language as they do to teaching sit, down and stay. I think we, the pet professionals, have a lot more work to do.”

With this mindset, most professionals working with animals agree that we all feel better when the animals in our midst are comfortable mentally and physically. “When I learned to prioritize building trust rather than having control over another being,” Yau adds, “it changed my whole perspective on how to be a human. I became a better person to humans and non-humans alike.”

What can you do?

1. Educate yourself and advocate for your pets. Learn to read body language and understand the species you are caring for. Many organizations promote and oversee standards for medical care and training methods, including the American Animal Hospital Association (AAHA), the American Veterinary Society of Animal Behavior (AVSAB), the ASPCA, the American Association of Feline Practitioners (AAFP) and Fear Free Pets.
2. Your pet’s home should always feel like a safe and secure place. Remember that many things in our human homes can scare or threaten our pet animals, such as noises from appliances or TVs, chemical scents, slippery floors, steep stairs, ceiling fans, rough handling, and loud or boisterous humans.
3. Talk to your vet, pet sitter, dogwalker, groomer and trainer about what they know. Find out if they are familiar with and knowledgeable about terms  like “cooperative care,” “fear free,” “force free,” “gentle care,” “low-stress handling,” “loose leash walking,” and “positive reinforcement.”
4. Work with veterinarians and groomers who offer a slow introduction. Arrange for “happy visits” with your pet where they can greet staff and get on the scale, or schedule a short grooming session.
5. Schedule visits at times when you won’t have to wait. Mindful scheduling helps prevent waiting room buildup and pets waiting long hours in cages.
6. Be thorough and careful when choosing a trainer or behavior consultant. Avoid training techniques that are forceful or utilize physical manipulations. Check credentials and ask about continuing education. Training should be fun for you and your pet.
7. Build an open and trusting relationship with your veterinarian so you can work as a team to help your pet(s). Thoughtful and gentle approaches are crucial. If your pet has a strong fear reaction that prevents them from receiving health care or puts staff in harm’s way, your vet will likely recommend muzzle training and anti-anxiety medications for vet visits.
8. Understanding your pet’s body language is vital for successful training and vet visits. Each animal’s response to vet care and training may be different, so knowing if/when/how to proceed with a nervous animal takes patience and experience. Many dogs will be more relaxed if examined on the floor without multiple people holding on to them. Frightened cats can be examined while still in their carrier or under a blanket.
9. Rescued pets may require extra patience. Your rescued pet might have had a rough start in life. Using extra patience and care could help with all interactions.
10. Consider virtual angles. If you have a pet who is extremely fearful of the veterinary office or vet care, please know that your veterinarian can still gain some valuable information about their health status by observing videos, asking lots of questions, and watching your pet, even if they can’t touch them.
11. Don’t rule out sedation. In profoundly anxious animals, your vet may recommend fully sedating your pet to perform a comprehensive physical exam, bloodwork, nail trims, etc. This reduces the stress for your pet and ensures their safety as well as the staff’s.
12. Encourage positive relationships. If your pet enjoys interactions with the professionals in their lives, be grateful and nurture those relationships!

This article was published in the September/October 2025 edition of Connect to Northern Westchester.