{"id":30199,"date":"2024-03-12T15:17:38","date_gmt":"2024-03-12T15:17:38","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/todaysveterinarynurse.com\/?p=30199"},"modified":"2024-03-12T18:52:14","modified_gmt":"2024-03-12T18:52:14","slug":"clinic-champion-cheri-herschell","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/navc.sitepreview.app\/todaysveterinarynurse.com\/personal-professional-development\/clinic-champion-cheri-herschell\/","title":{"rendered":"Clinic Champion: Cheri Herschell"},"content":{"rendered":"

Editor\u2019s Note:<\/b><\/span> <\/b>This article discusses domestic violence. If you or someone you know are experiencing domestic violence, help is available via the National Domestic Violence Hotline <\/span>thehotline.org<\/span><\/a>.<\/span><\/p>\n

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Nearly 8 years ago, Cheri Herschell, CVT, made the decision to leave. As a survivor of domestic violence, Herschell was unexpectedly thrust into the position of being a single mother and, with the need for a 9-to-5 schedule, leaving her career in the clinic as a veterinary technician behind.<\/p>\n

\u201cI had no idea it was coming,\u201d Herschell said. \u201cBut it had to happen.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

The change left her facing the legal system without any prior experience or support. <\/span><\/p>\n

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Every day, veterinary nurses\/technicians make a positive impact on their clients, patients, coworkers, and greater community. But the stories behind each and every one of these professionals are often overlooked due to the selfless nature of working in veterinary medicine. Today\u2019s Veterinary Nurse<\/em> aims to shine a light on some of these stories with its Clinic Champions series. Each issue, TVN<\/em> will honor a veterinary nurse for their contributions in community service, scholarship, advocacy, or innovation. This series will highlight unsung heroes who make a lasting impact on their patients and community. At the end of the year, 1 of the 4 honorees will be recognized as the Clinic Champion of the Year. To nominate a veterinary nurse\/technician, visit bit.ly\/ClinicChampions<\/a>.<\/span><\/p>\n

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\"\"<\/a>\u201cI had no idea what I was supposed to do when I arrived at the courtroom. I didn\u2019t know anything that had happened until the judgment was made,\u201d said Herschell. \u201cEvery victim has rights, and one of those rights is to have a say in what happens in the court system. I didn\u2019t have that say because I didn\u2019t have an advocate there to tell me that I had that available.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

Today, Herschell is the advocate she never had. She works as a domestic violence advocate for Crisis Center North in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, acting as a guide for victims as they attend hearings in magistrate court\u2014with the help of a very special assistant. As part of the center\u2019s Paws for Empowerment Animal Advocacy Program, Herschell brings her chocolate Labrador retriever, Rune, along as a therapy dog for survivors of intimate partner violence. <\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cNow when I go to court, I make sure the victims understand all of their options and everything that\u2019s available to them,\u201d she said.<\/span><\/p>\n

Herschell also uses her personal experiences and expertise as a certified veterinary technician to bring awareness to an overlooked issue: the link between animal abuse and domestic abuse, and the role veterinary professionals can play in preventing both. When she\u2019s not at magistrate court on Mondays and Tuesdays, attending anywhere from 1 to 5 hearings per day, Herschell is reaching out to local clinics and veterinary technician programs with the goal of training veterinary professionals how to identify signs of abuse and providing tools for offering help.<\/span><\/p>\n

The Link Between Animal and Domestic Abuse<\/div>
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  • Among women who owned a pet while in an abusive relationship, 89% reported that their abuser mistreated their animal.1<\/sup><\/li>\n
  • In the same study, 56% of the respondents delayed leaving their abuser out of fear for their pet\u2019s safety.1<\/sup><\/li>\n
  • In another study, women in domestic violence shelters were nearly 11 times more likely to report that their abuser harmed or killed their pets than women who had not experienced intimate violence.2<\/sup><\/li>\n
  • In a study of children who had been exposed to intimate partner violence, 50% reported that the abuser threatened to harm their pet to maintain control over their victims.3<\/sup><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/div><\/div>\n

    She acknowledges that among shifting demands from clients, staff shortages, and numerous other challenges, it can be difficult for veterinary professionals to add another training to their list. However, statistics say this is an issue that will make its way to veterinary professionals, ready or not. <\/span><\/p>\n

    \u201cVeterinarians are listed as 1 of the top 3 professions that a domestic violence victim is likely to disclose their situation to,\u201d said Herschell. \u201cSo, it\u2019s vitally important for them to be aware that they may very well have somebody come into their clinic and admit that their animal or they themselves are being abused. Having a simple brochure or a card that veterinarians can hand clients and say, \u2018Hey, these people are here for you 24\/7,\u2019 is all we\u2019re asking.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n