3.17. Address Requirements & Special Circumstances

Don’t Let Addresses Slow You Down—Ask Early, Save Time Later!

Addresses are the single most time-consuming data field, often taking twice as long to enter as other client information. Employing the concept of asking for the address when you make an appointment helps disperse the time it takes to enter this complex piece of data. Checkout is already a heavily weighted process with many things to do before an animal is checked out.

Address Requirements for Medical Records: Physical Addresses, PO Boxes, and Special Circumstances

• Municipalities and Physical Addresses: Many municipalities require a physical address for medical records and rabies certificates. This is standard practice to ensure the correct documentation and tracking of animals for health and safety purposes.

• Microchipping: It’s indeed recommended to register the animal under a physical address (not a PO Box) if the animal is microchipped. This ensures that the animal can be properly identified and located if needed.

• Native American Reservations: On certain Native American reservations, it may not be possible to use a physical address, making it necessary to use a PO Box. This is acceptable in cases where no physical address is available.

• Houseless Clients: When a client is homeless and does not have a permanent address, using the last known address where they stayed long-term is a reasonable approach. This is consistent with how the federal government often handles similar situations, ensuring that the client’s records can still be kept up to date.