Two years ago, this retired nurse went to work in a veterinarian clinic just for the pure joy of it. At that time, cats and dogs were globally being abandoned or displaced by the thousands. The good news: people with their hearts in the right place were rescuing as many of these precious pets as possible. In Washington state alone, airplane loads (literally) were being flown in. The problem was, in their effort to save lives-with-paws, these noble humans had no time to investigate whether there was enough veterinary clinics to accommodate their huge numbers. Their biggest concern was to find home for them.
Bad news: There weren’t, still aren’t, enough vets.
Veterinary clinics in Snohomish County, likely across the country, within a few months became overwhelmed. Where normally they had open slots in nearly any given day, that evolved to having none. And, much to their frustration, many — if not most — had to close their practices to new clients.
Anyone who is struggling to get their pet the care they need, I empathize 100 percent with your plight; I’m a dog and cat person. However, be aware, all the vets are more frustrated than you are! Hell for any doctor, with either two- or four-legged patients, is when they are being forced to admit and convey — because their family and staff are telling them they are burning out, could make mistakes — “I can’t help you at this time.”
Gem Glover
Snohomish
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