July 9, 2009
- Pasco, Washington
Veterinary Costs Soar
By Rudabeh Shahbazi
Tri-Cities-- Veterinary costs have risen up to 80 percent across the country, forcing people to make a choice between their animal's health and feeding their families.
Lyn Schatz, of Benton City, has taken in 20 cats, mostly strays. In the current economic crisis, she says she can't afford to provide them with proper health care. "It's one of those things that you just keep putting off, because we keep thinking, OK, next month maybe we'll have enough money to do that," said Schatz. Veterinarians are having as much trouble with finances as average families. Their overhead keeps going up. Pasco veterinarian Dr. Hank Oliver makes house calls, and has to keep up with gas prices and vehicle maintenance. He knows firsthand the tough choices his clients have to make. "There are people all the time that simply cannot afford to take care of their pet, and elect to go the other way, which is to sometimes have them put to sleep, or just not provide care," said Oliver. Vets say the slowing economy is turning recent graduates away from practicing in rural areas. They aim for bigger cities where the money is better. About 1,600 students graduate in veterinary medicine a year, but the industry is losing up to 3,400 a year. "We've been advertising for a mixed animal vet for three years, and still have yet to get one," said Oliver. Schatz may end up with more cats, because she can't afford to have them spayed and neutered. "I just took in a cat that was hurt a couple weeks ago, and it was $250 to have just his wounds fixed and put on antibiotics," she said. "And that puts a big dent in our grocery money." Oliver said the horse industry is suffering the most, because they are their care expenses far exceed that of small animals. But he added that veterinary care in the Tri-Cities is still far ahead economically than the rest of the country. |
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