Abstracts

Submitted by Rhea Amatya, Colorado State University

Can the SASSY Survey Guide Climate-Animal Health Communication in Veterinary

Clinics?

Rhea Amatya1, Kelly Greenhut1 , Cat Taylor Krouse1, Caroline Kern-Allely2, Danielle

Scott2, Kim Hillyer1 , Colleen Duncan1,3*

1 College of Veterinary Medicine and Biomedical Sciences, Colorado State University,

Fort Collins, CO

2 Department of Clinical Sciences, College of Veterinary Medicine and Biomedical

Sciences, Colorado State University, Fort Collins, CO

3 Department of Microbiology, Immunology, and Pathology, College of Veterinary

Medicine and Biomedical Sciences, Colorado State University, Fort Collins, CO

 

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Effective client communication in veterinary medicine requires understanding audience

perspectives and values. Previous research suggests that many veterinary clients care

about environmental sustainability, but little is known about their specific attitudes

toward climate change or how they prefer to receive health-related information. In

Colorado, recent studies have identified significant environmental hazards affecting both

human and animal health, including heat stress, air quality, and wildfires, highlighting

the need for veterinary professionals to address these risks in client communication.

The Six Americas Super Short SurveY (SASSY) is a validated four-question survey

developed by the Yale Program on Climate Change Communication to categorize

individuals based on climate change beliefs and engagement into one of six groups:

Alarmed, Concerned, Cautious, Disengaged, Doubtful, or Dismissive. This study used

the SASSY to assess veterinary clients’ climate attitudes and identify communication

preferences to inform development of climate and pet health resources. The survey

included the four SASSY questions, as well as additional questions about preferred

receipt of information. Most client respondents were categorized as Alarmed or

Concerned on the SASSY scale, indicating high engagement with climate issues.

Respondents expressed strong interest in resources connecting environmental hazards

to pet health and preferred receiving information via scientific journals and social media.

These findings suggest that veterinary clients are receptive to communication and

resources linking pet health to climate-related environmental hazards. The tool proved

feasible and informative, and we encourage veterinary practices to consider SASSY as

a practical method for understanding client climate perspectives and guiding

clinic-specific communication strategies.