As of Monday, March 1, 2022, we are no longer requiring face masks to be worn inside by vaccinated clients. We are still asking that unvaccinated clients continue to wear face masks inside our building at all times, and can provide them for your pet’s appointment if needed.
We are frequently asked why it is so difficult to get an appointment, so we want to share the current state of the veterinary industry. With the initial COVID-19 lockdowns and shelter-in-place orders, many people began working from home and spending more time with their pets. They started noticing problems a lot sooner, leading to an increase in vet appointments. At the same time, veterinary staffing decreased, creating an increased burden on fewer people. As the months wore on, more people adopted new pets. There are now 25% more pets on average than there were pre-pandemic. Clinics everywhere are working well beyond capacity due to a severe staffing shortage. There are simply no applicants to choose from, whether clinics need veterinarians or support staff.
As of February 2022, we have only one associate veterinarian, but we still have the same level of demand that we did as a six-doctor practice seeing some 1,800 pets each month–if not more. We have been trying to recruit more veterinarians for over a year and have found some relief vets for temporary help, but no full-time doctors yet. We ask for your continued patience and kindness as we work as hard as we can to provide quality care for your pets.
