THE CANADIAN PRESS
VANCOUVER – A shortage of veterinarians in British Columbia threatens food security and is responsible for animals suffering and dying, according the group that speaks for animal doctors in the province.
Dr. Al Longair, president of the Society of BC Veterinarians, said the problem has been compounded by the COVID-19 pandemic as more people get pets and public health restrictions double the length of appointment times.
Longair is among eight society executives who signed an open letter to members of B.C.’s legislative assembly saying the minister of advanced education won’t meet with them about increasing seats at the Western College of Veterinary Medicine.
CALGARY As the pandemic wears on, veterinarians are getting worn out. Everyone is impacted by COVID-19 and the restrictions brought in to protect people s health, but those in the veterinary medicine field are also dealing with more patients, higher stress and staff shortages. It s a snowball effect in that we feel overwhelmed a lot of the time and its burnt out a lot of staff, said Dr. Lorenza Malaguti, the medical director at Calgary s McKnight Veterinary Hospital. A recent survey by ROYALE found that one in six Canadians adopted a cat or dog during the pandemic. Some of those pets turn into patients, with animal clinics and hospitals seeing an increase in the last 13 months.
Terri Theodore
Puppies that will become RCMP police dogs play outside B.C. RCMP Headquarters, in Surrey, B.C., on Thursday, March 11, 2021. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Darryl Dyck April 25, 2021 - 6:09 PM
VANCOUVER - A shortage of veterinarians in British Columbia threatens food security and is responsible for animals suffering and dying, according the group that speaks for animal doctors in the province.
Dr. Al Longair, president of the Society of BC Veterinarians, said the problem has been compounded by the COVID-19 pandemic as more people get pets and public health restrictions double the length of appointment times.
Longair is among eight society executives who signed an open letter to members of B.C. s legislative assembly saying the minister of advanced education won t meet with them about increasing seats at the Western College of Veterinary Medicine.
Brandon Sun By: Terri Theodore, The Canadian Press Posted:
Last Modified: 8:09 PM CDT Sunday, Apr. 25, 2021 Save to Read Later
VANCOUVER - A shortage of veterinarians in British Columbia threatens food security and is responsible for animals suffering and dying, according the group that speaks for animal doctors in the province.
Puppies that will become RCMP police dogs play outside B.C. RCMP Headquarters, in Surrey, B.C., on Thursday, March 11, 2021. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Darryl Dyck
VANCOUVER - A shortage of veterinarians in British Columbia threatens food security and is responsible for animals suffering and dying, according the group that speaks for animal doctors in the province.
Lethbridge animal hospital discusses vet shortage during COVID-19 pet boom sootoday.com - get the latest breaking news, showbiz & celebrity photos, sport news & rumours, viral videos and top stories from sootoday.com Daily Mail and Mail on Sunday newspapers.