Wednesday, 26 August 2026 12:35 PM
Company Update
Honnas Veterinary in Austin, Texas, is encouraging greater awareness of the barriers that can keep pets from receiving regular veterinary care.
AUSTIN, TX / ACCESS Newswire / August 26, 2026 / Routine veterinary care can play an important role in supporting an animal's health throughout its life. Yet for many pet owners, getting a dog or cat through the clinic door is not always simple.
Honnas Veterinary is raising awareness about the importance of making veterinary care more accessible, welcoming, and less stressful for pets and their owners.
The Austin practice was founded in 2023 by Dr. Cheri Honnas with a clear objective. The goal was "to provide excellent and accessible vet services from a welcoming clinic in the heart of Austin."
That mission addresses an issue extending well beyond one veterinary practice.
A 2025 study published in PLOS One surveyed 751 U.S. residents and found that 20% of pet owners reported difficulty accessing basic veterinary care, including vaccinations and annual examinations.
Other veterinary research has estimated that more than one-quarter of U.S. pet owners experience difficulties accessing veterinary care. Earlier national data also found significant gaps in routine and preventive care, particularly among cats.
"We believe in inclusivity and a high standard of vet care for all," Honnas Veterinary says.
Stress Can Become Another Barrier to Veterinary Visits
Access is not only about whether veterinary services exist. The experience of visiting a clinic can also affect whether owners bring their pets back.
Research cited by Fear Free found that 58% of more than 1,000 cat caretakers surveyed said their cat hated going to the veterinarian. Another 38% said they became stressed simply thinking about taking their cat to the veterinarian.
Those experiences matter because avoiding routine visits can reduce opportunities for veterinary teams to examine animals and discuss their ongoing health.
Honnas Veterinary has Fear Free certified staff, reflecting its focus on reducing fear, anxiety, and stress associated with veterinary visits.
Fear Free says its approach focuses on animals' emotional well-being and reducing fear, anxiety, and stress during veterinary care. Research examining Fear Free practices has also found an increase in feline visits after Fear Free methods were introduced.
For Honnas Veterinary, creating a better experience is closely connected to its broader approach.
The practice describes that combination simply as "compassionate care and beautiful facilities."
Veterinary Care Access Remains an Important Issue
Recent industry figures show there is still a gap between having a regular veterinarian and actually visiting one.
AVMA data reported in 2024 found that 86.8% of dog owners said they had a regular veterinarian or veterinary practice, but only 74.2% reported a veterinary visit during the previous year. Among cat owners, 77.1% reported having a regular veterinarian, while 57.3% said they had visited one.
Those numbers help explain why accessibility has become part of the conversation surrounding modern veterinary care.
Honnas Veterinary has incorporated accessibility into its own operating model, including offering a free new patient exam. Since opening, the locally and female-owned practice has grown to five doctors and now sees more than 1,500 patients each month.
"We have grown significantly in just over two years," Honnas Veterinary says.
The practice views that growth alongside its original objective of providing "excellent and accessible vet care."
What Pet Owners Can Do
Honnas Veterinary is encouraging pet owners to think proactively about their pets' relationship with veterinary care.
Owners can pay attention to changes in their pet's behavior around travel, carriers, waiting rooms, unfamiliar people, or examinations. They can also keep track of routine veterinary visits and discuss concerns about fear, anxiety, or accessibility directly with their veterinary team.
The broader goal is awareness. Veterinary visits do not have to be viewed only as a response to an obvious problem. Building a regular relationship with a veterinary team can create opportunities for ongoing conversations about an animal's health and well-being.
For Honnas Veterinary, making those interactions more welcoming remains central to the idea behind the practice.
The aim, in its words, is to provide "a high standard of vet care for all."
About Honnas Veterinary
Honnas Veterinary is a locally and female-owned veterinary practice founded by Dr. Cheri Honnas in Austin, Texas, in 2023. The Fear Free certified staff has grown to five doctors and serves more than 1,500 patients per month. Honnas Veterinary focuses on compassionate, inclusive, accessible veterinary services from a state-of-the-art clinic in the heart of Austin. More information is available at http://honnasvet.com/.
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SOURCE: Honnas Veterinary