Animal Welfare Professionals

Good morning,

I run a rescue up in rural Maine, working with shelters in the south to take in dogs and occasionally a few cats.

I have a HUGE concern on how difficult veterinary care is getting.  My veterinarian and vets in the area are booking appointments for October, if it is a sick appointment they will try and fit you in but charge double for the appointment. The emergency vet clinic which is around 75 minutes away is constantly working with staff shortages, often just one vet and are only able to deal with critical cases, they do all they can offering triage over the phone, the next nearest emergency vet is 2.5 hours away.

A LOT of veterinarians in the state are not taking on new clients as they are already over-whelmed with the clients that they have.

I can only see the situation getting worse as the "burn out", stress, emotional distress and increase in demand rises.

For families who have never had pets before, it can be hard for them to register with a vet.

Does anyone know if anything is being looked at - for solutions - I know there are a few "online / phone / video" vets appearing, however, I believe that in most states they are not able to diagnose or prescribe - which I understand the reasoning, I know in Maine they cannot. I do provide handouts to adopters about a program and recommend that they do call if they are unsure as of course they would be able to be advised how serious something is - but it doesn't help  much in the overall scheme of things.

Is there a solution out there that I do not know about - for the rescue and for adopters, it is a conversation that I have with adopters and make them aware of how bad the situation is, but it is extremely worrying if / when something is going to change, however, if I have a rescue that turns out has an allergy, or anything that needs a vet appointment and I can not get them in to be seen until October, that makes that pet unadoptable until it has been seen, diagnosed and treated.

The "online" vet that could diagnose and prescribe would be perfect and would alleviate a lot of problems throughout the industry - does anyone have any information, ideas, input?

thank you

#AccesstoCare
#AdoptionsandAdoptionPrograms
#FieldServicesandPublicSafety*
#Medicine,SurgeryandSterilization
#PetSupportServices*

------------------------------
Jenny Cope - Fear Free Certified
President/Founder
Give a Dog a Home Rescue
Greater Goods Charities - GOODS Program Ambassador
501c3 Non- Profit Corp, Tax ID/EIN 27-5241306
State of Maine Shelter/Rescue Licence # F1463
State of Maine Registered Charity: CO11334
https://giveadogahome.rescuegroups.org/
------------------------------

Good morning,

I run a rescue up in rural Maine, working with shelters in the south to take in dogs and occasionally a few cats.

I have a HUGE concern on how difficult veterinary care is getting.  My veterinarian and vets in the area are booking appointments for October, if it is a sick appointment they will try and fit you in but charge double for the appointment. The emergency vet clinic which is around 75 minutes away is constantly working with staff shortages, often just one vet and are only able to deal with critical cases, they do all they can offering triage over the phone, the next nearest emergency vet is 2.5 hours away.

A LOT of veterinarians in the state are not taking on new clients as they are already over-whelmed with the clients that they have.

I can only see the situation getting worse as the "burn out", stress, emotional distress and increase in demand rises.

For families who have never had pets before, it can be hard for them to register with a vet.

Does anyone know if anything is being looked at - for solutions - I know there are a few "online / phone / video" vets appearing, however, I believe that in most states they are not able to diagnose or prescribe - which I understand the reasoning, I know in Maine they cannot. I do provide handouts to adopters about a program and recommend that they do call if they are unsure as of course they would be able to be advised how serious something is - but it doesn't help  much in the overall scheme of things.

Is there a solution out there that I do not know about - for the rescue and for adopters, it is a conversation that I have with adopters and make them aware of how bad the situation is, but it is extremely worrying if / when something is going to change, however, if I have a rescue that turns out has an allergy, or anything that needs a vet appointment and I can not get them in to be seen until October, that makes that pet unadoptable until it has been seen, diagnosed and treated.

The "online" vet that could diagnose and prescribe would be perfect and would alleviate a lot of problems throughout the industry - does anyone have any information, ideas, input?

thank you

#AccesstoCare
#AdoptionsandAdoptionPrograms
#FieldServicesandPublicSafety*
#Medicine,SurgeryandSterilization
#PetSupportServices*

------------------------------
Jenny Cope - Fear Free Certified
President/Founder
Give a Dog a Home Rescue
Greater Goods Charities - GOODS Program Ambassador
501c3 Non- Profit Corp, Tax ID/EIN 27-5241306
State of Maine Shelter/Rescue Licence # F1463
State of Maine Registered Charity: CO11334
https://giveadogahome.rescuegroups.org/
------------------------------

Good morning,

I run a rescue up in rural Maine, working with shelters in the south to take in dogs and occasionally a few cats.

I have a HUGE concern on how difficult veterinary care is getting.  My veterinarian and vets in the area are booking appointments for October, if it is a sick appointment they will try and fit you in but charge double for the appointment. The emergency vet clinic which is around 75 minutes away is constantly working with staff shortages, often just one vet and are only able to deal with critical cases, they do all they can offering triage over the phone, the next nearest emergency vet is 2.5 hours away.

A LOT of veterinarians in the state are not taking on new clients as they are already over-whelmed with the clients that they have.

I can only see the situation getting worse as the "burn out", stress, emotional distress and increase in demand rises.

For families who have never had pets before, it can be hard for them to register with a vet.

Does anyone know if anything is being looked at - for solutions - I know there are a few "online / phone / video" vets appearing, however, I believe that in most states they are not able to diagnose or prescribe - which I understand the reasoning, I know in Maine they cannot. I do provide handouts to adopters about a program and recommend that they do call if they are unsure as of course they would be able to be advised how serious something is - but it doesn't help  much in the overall scheme of things.

Is there a solution out there that I do not know about - for the rescue and for adopters, it is a conversation that I have with adopters and make them aware of how bad the situation is, but it is extremely worrying if / when something is going to change, however, if I have a rescue that turns out has an allergy, or anything that needs a vet appointment and I can not get them in to be seen until October, that makes that pet unadoptable until it has been seen, diagnosed and treated.

The "online" vet that could diagnose and prescribe would be perfect and would alleviate a lot of problems throughout the industry - does anyone have any information, ideas, input?

thank you

#AccesstoCare
#AdoptionsandAdoptionPrograms
#FieldServicesandPublicSafety*
#Medicine,SurgeryandSterilization
#PetSupportServices*

------------------------------
Jenny Cope - Fear Free Certified
President/Founder
Give a Dog a Home Rescue
Greater Goods Charities - GOODS Program Ambassador
501c3 Non- Profit Corp, Tax ID/EIN 27-5241306
State of Maine Shelter/Rescue Licence # F1463
State of Maine Registered Charity: CO11334
https://giveadogahome.rescuegroups.org/
------------------------------

Good morning,

I run a rescue up in rural Maine, working with shelters in the south to take in dogs and occasionally a few cats.

I have a HUGE concern on how difficult veterinary care is getting.  My veterinarian and vets in the area are booking appointments for October, if it is a sick appointment they will try and fit you in but charge double for the appointment. The emergency vet clinic which is around 75 minutes away is constantly working with staff shortages, often just one vet and are only able to deal with critical cases, they do all they can offering triage over the phone, the next nearest emergency vet is 2.5 hours away.

A LOT of veterinarians in the state are not taking on new clients as they are already over-whelmed with the clients that they have.

I can only see the situation getting worse as the "burn out", stress, emotional distress and increase in demand rises.

For families who have never had pets before, it can be hard for them to register with a vet.

Does anyone know if anything is being looked at - for solutions - I know there are a few "online / phone / video" vets appearing, however, I believe that in most states they are not able to diagnose or prescribe - which I understand the reasoning, I know in Maine they cannot. I do provide handouts to adopters about a program and recommend that they do call if they are unsure as of course they would be able to be advised how serious something is - but it doesn't help  much in the overall scheme of things.

Is there a solution out there that I do not know about - for the rescue and for adopters, it is a conversation that I have with adopters and make them aware of how bad the situation is, but it is extremely worrying if / when something is going to change, however, if I have a rescue that turns out has an allergy, or anything that needs a vet appointment and I can not get them in to be seen until October, that makes that pet unadoptable until it has been seen, diagnosed and treated.

The "online" vet that could diagnose and prescribe would be perfect and would alleviate a lot of problems throughout the industry - does anyone have any information, ideas, input?

thank you

#AccesstoCare
#AdoptionsandAdoptionPrograms
#FieldServicesandPublicSafety*
#Medicine,SurgeryandSterilization
#PetSupportServices*

------------------------------
Jenny Cope - Fear Free Certified
President/Founder
Give a Dog a Home Rescue
Greater Goods Charities - GOODS Program Ambassador
501c3 Non- Profit Corp, Tax ID/EIN 27-5241306
State of Maine Shelter/Rescue Licence # F1463
State of Maine Registered Charity: CO11334
https://giveadogahome.rescuegroups.org/
------------------------------

Good morning,

I run a rescue up in rural Maine, working with shelters in the south to take in dogs and occasionally a few cats.

I have a HUGE concern on how difficult veterinary care is getting.  My veterinarian and vets in the area are booking appointments for October, if it is a sick appointment they will try and fit you in but charge double for the appointment. The emergency vet clinic which is around 75 minutes away is constantly working with staff shortages, often just one vet and are only able to deal with critical cases, they do all they can offering triage over the phone, the next nearest emergency vet is 2.5 hours away.

A LOT of veterinarians in the state are not taking on new clients as they are already over-whelmed with the clients that they have.

I can only see the situation getting worse as the "burn out", stress, emotional distress and increase in demand rises.

For families who have never had pets before, it can be hard for them to register with a vet.

Does anyone know if anything is being looked at - for solutions - I know there are a few "online / phone / video" vets appearing, however, I believe that in most states they are not able to diagnose or prescribe - which I understand the reasoning, I know in Maine they cannot. I do provide handouts to adopters about a program and recommend that they do call if they are unsure as of course they would be able to be advised how serious something is - but it doesn't help  much in the overall scheme of things.

Is there a solution out there that I do not know about - for the rescue and for adopters, it is a conversation that I have with adopters and make them aware of how bad the situation is, but it is extremely worrying if / when something is going to change, however, if I have a rescue that turns out has an allergy, or anything that needs a vet appointment and I can not get them in to be seen until October, that makes that pet unadoptable until it has been seen, diagnosed and treated.

The "online" vet that could diagnose and prescribe would be perfect and would alleviate a lot of problems throughout the industry - does anyone have any information, ideas, input?

thank you

#AccesstoCare
#AdoptionsandAdoptionPrograms
#FieldServicesandPublicSafety*
#Medicine,SurgeryandSterilization
#PetSupportServices*

------------------------------
Jenny Cope - Fear Free Certified
President/Founder
Give a Dog a Home Rescue
Greater Goods Charities - GOODS Program Ambassador
501c3 Non- Profit Corp, Tax ID/EIN 27-5241306
State of Maine Shelter/Rescue Licence # F1463
State of Maine Registered Charity: CO11334
https://giveadogahome.rescuegroups.org/
------------------------------