Examining access to veterinary care, vaccine hesitancy, and the economic value of companion animals
My research extends health services research to companion animals, examining barriers to veterinary care, vaccine hesitancy among pet owners, and the economic valuation of pets in policy analysis. With American households spending approximately $70 billion annually on pets and dogs present in nearly half of all homes, understanding access to veterinary care and pet health policy has significant implications for both animal welfare and public health. Through secret shopper surveys of veterinary practices, I assess barriers related to contact information accuracy, appointment availability, and geographic accessibility.
A critical contribution of this research program involves estimating the value of statistical dog life (VSDL)—an important but previously unavailable shadow price for use in regulatory benefit-cost analysis. Just as the value of statistical life (VSL) is used to evaluate policies affecting human mortality, the VSDL provides a scientifically grounded estimate for evaluating regulations concerning pet food safety, environmental toxins affecting pets, and veterinary care policies. This work has applications beyond regulation, including setting tort awards for wrongful dog death and informing property divisions in divorce settlements where joint custody of pets is not feasible.
A concerning parallel trend in veterinary medicine mirrors challenges in human health: rising vaccine hesitancy among pet owners. My research documents how skepticism about vaccines is affecting pet vaccination rates, with important implications for both animal welfare and public health, particularly for zoonotic diseases like rabies. Using adapted survey instruments from human vaccine research, I examine the prevalence of vaccine hesitancy among pet owners, its predictors, trust in veterinarians as information sources, and potential spillover effects between human and animal vaccination attitudes. This research illuminates how insights from health policy can inform challenges in veterinary medicine while contributing to broader understanding of vaccination behavior across species.