Dr. Traci Zager joins the podcast to talk about the role pets can play in domestic violence and keeping people in dangerous places. She discusses how animal abuse and domestic abuse are often linked, the Purple Leash Project and how initiatives like these can aid people seeking shelter from domestic violence. She talks about what every veterinary professional should know, and how we can use our knowledge and skills to make a difference in our own communities.

LINKS:
The Purple Leash Project: https://redrover.org/the-purple-leash-project/

Red Rover: https://redrover.org/

OVMA Education Resources (Animal Abuse): https://www.ohiovma.org/veterinarians/resources/abuse.html

Safe Place For Pets: https://www.safeplacepets.org/

National Link Coalition: https://nationallinkcoalition.org/

Domestic Violence Hotline: 800-799-7233

ABOUT OUR GUEST:
Dr. Traci Zager received her B.S. in Biology with Chemistry minor from California University of Pennsylvania. She then completed her MBA from Youngstown State University and her Doctorate of Veterinary Medicine from The Ohio State University. After graduation, she worked as a small animal and exotics veterinarian in Northeast Ohio before joining Nestlé Purina PetCare as a full time Veterinary Communications Manager in 2021.

In addition to small animal medicine and nutrition, Traci has special interests in companion animal behavior and education. She currently teaches courses online to veterinary technician students at her Alma Mater CalU of PA, as well as continuing to practice small animal/exotics medicine on the weekend.

Dr. Zager also served on the Animal Abuse Reporting Taskforce for the Ohio VMA, which helped to create educational materials on abuse reporting for Ohio Veterinarians. This taskforce was so important because legislation was recently passed to make Ohio a mandatory reporting state for all veterinarians. Dr. Zager also occasionally helps her local AWL with abuse cases.

Fun fact: Dr. Traci Zager is a new mom of a beautiful little boy named Jameson Henry Zager!