Mobile Pet Vet - Moscow

When Tammy Faulkner was preparing to open a small animal practice in the Pullman/Moscow area in 2001, she visited the Region II Idaho Small Business Development Center for help gathering start-up information. According to Faulkner, house call veterinarians have been gaining popularity over the past few years, and she wanted to establish a business that brought the “vet to the pet.” 
A house call practice targets a much different clientele than the traditional clinic. Owners of pets that are frightened or aggressive benefit from this type of service, as do multiple-pet households, elderly clients who are unable to leave their homes to take a pet to the clinic and owners of pets that dislike cars or who get carsick.

“House calls are also convenient for busy individuals as they find my service saves them valuable time,” said Faulkner. “I can meet them at home before or after work or during their lunch hour so they don’t have to interrupt their busy schedules. And pets are much calmer and easier to work with when they are at home with their owners.”

Dr. Faulkner can provide most health care services such as wellness exams, vaccinations, deworming, cat castrations, and examination and treatment of ears, eyes and skin. Pets can be anesthetized or tranquilized for a wide range of procedures such as wound repairs and lump removals. She believes home euthanasia is often more comfortable for both the owners and their pets during a time of grief. If she needs to perform major surgery, she does so at a local veterinary hospital as needed.

Although most of her house calls do fall during normal business hours, Faulkner doesn’t have the typical Monday through Friday, 9 to 5 schedule. Calls are made at a time that’s convenient for both Faulkner and the pet owner. A typical house call is $45, or $55 for those outside the Moscow-Pullman area. The fee includes travel and exam; additional fees are charged for emergencies. As her business has grown, she has continued to consult the ISBDC for on-going marketing assistance.

Faulkner is a 1990 graduate of the Washington State University College of Veterinary Medicine. She has practiced in the Tri-Cities, Orofino and the Lewiston-Clarkston valley.