Animal Poison Hotline Celebrates Quarter Century

by Patricia Collier

The Animal Poison Control Center’s hotline is celebrating 25 years of service as an emergency resource to pet owners and veterinarians.

Dr. William Buck, founder and retired professor of toxicology from the University of Illinois, started the center with three university grad students in 1978.

Although the nature of the service has remained the same over the years, there have been numerous changes to reflect a more national scope of work.

The service was first known as the Animal Toxicology Hotline. In 1980 the name was changed to the Animal Poison Control Center.

It was changed again in 1984 to its present name, the National Animal Poison Control Center.

The types of calls received have shifted as well. Originally, calls mostly dealt with problems encountered by Illinois dairy and pig farmers, Buck said, but as more pet owners became familiar with the hotline, more of the calls were about dogs, cats, and other domesticated animals.

Eventually, the hotline number was broadcast nationally, and now the service receives calls from all over the nation and even some international calls from countries such as Canada, Spain, Russia, Japan, and Indonesia.

Buck and his students originally worked out of a chicken coop located on the university’s research farms. In 1996, the American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (ASPCA) bought the Animal Poison Control Center and offices were moved to its present location in Urbana at 1717 S. Philo Road, Suite 36.

As the service grew, vet-techs were hired to answer the phones. There are currently 50 staff members at the center, half of whom are veterinarians.

Edward Sayres, president of the ASPCA, said the central location of the center serves as a model for other departments.

The ASPCA is also an allied agency with the university’s College of Veterinary Medicine and provides clinical toxicology training to veterinary toxicology residents.

When a pet owner calls, physical and medical information about the animal and a description of the problem is gathered by the veterinarian, said Center manager Dr. Camille DeClementi.

This information is then fed into a computer database which provides the vet with a possible solution based on similar cases.

Sometimes the pet owner is referred to an emergency vet in their area, or they are told to see their veterinarian. The caller is then given a case number and a follow-up phone number in case they require further assistance.

According to DeClementi, the center gets often receives 350-400 calls a day.

In 2002, the center handled over 73,000 cases.

The Animal Poison Control Center hotline number is 1-888-426-4435. It is available 24 hours a day, seven days a week, 365 days a year.

The hotline was a free service 25 years ago, but due to growth and additional staffing needs, there is now a $45 consultation fee.

© 2003 Animal News Center, Inc.