ALLEVIATING THE EMERGENCY VETERINARY CARE SHORTAGE
During the pandemic, vets everywhere were short-staffed (and still are), had to adhere to protocols that were more time-consuming and stringent than before, and were therefore booked up solidly for weeks in advance. Most vets struggled to accept emergency cases, except for two in the entire Jefferson, Clallam and Kitsap County area (population 379,538), one in Poulsbo and one in Silverdale, which were also sometimes so full they could not take a case. That’s only two emergency veterinary clinics for a population of over 1/3 of a million people! Additionally, the costs to the vets of supplies, equipment, rents, medications and such has gone up astronomically. Veterinary fees have gone up accordingly. Now the costs of vet care are above the means of even many middle-class pet owners. Most of the vets are doing their best with a very difficult and unavoidable situation. Consider that pets require the same quality of medical attention that people do, and you can see why it’s expensive.
The veterinary availability situation everywhere is challenging, especially in our geographically isolated area – the Quimper Peninsula. Meanwhile, pets are suffering. The only way this can be solved is to bring a new clinic to the area that specializes in emergencies only. Rather than just talking about it, let’s DO this – we MUST do this – to alleviate the current rate of suffering and deaths of pets that can’t wait days or weeks when they are acutely sick or injured.
Who will join Pet Helpers in creating “Project Quimper Emergency Veterinary Clinic”? Email me at coordinator@pethelpersporttownsend.org – let’s walk our talk!
Pet Helpers Port Townsend 