Veterinarian shortage on Vancouver Island only expected to get worse
Finding timely veterinary care in British Columbia has long been a frustration for many, and it's only getting worse as vets retire from the profession.
At the Beacon Hill Children’s Farm, staff take care of a variety of different creatures, and getting them all the medical care they need has become a challenge over the years.
“We have donkeys, sheep, alpacas, pigs, ducks, chickens and finches,” said Lynda Koenders, owner of the Beacon Hill Children’s Farm.
“We actually have to use three vet companies in order to serve our animals.”
Many clinics have moved away from serving larger animals.
“It’s a challenge to find vets,” said Koenders.
These days, even dog and cat owners can have trouble finding a vet.
“Many veterinarians' clinics previously may have had four or five veterinarians working in the practice; now they may be down to one or two,” said Craig Daniell, CEO of the BC SPCA.
Daniell says that’s mainly because of retirements. Other vets have moved to places where the cost of living is lower, and some have just chosen to leave the profession altogether.
Now B.C. is in a position where it isn't able to catch up.
“There hasn’t been enough places at veterinarian schools in Canada to meet the growing demand of our population,” said Daniell.
The province is now doubling the number of subsidized vet school spots from 20 to 40 at a university in Saskatchewan. Currently, there is no veterinary college in B.C.
“Our goal is to make veterinary care more affordable to the masses, to everybody,” said Eyal Lichtman, the CEO of the Regional Animal Protection Society (RAPS).
RAPS is one of the largest animal rescue organizations in the province. It also runs its own not-for-profit animal hospital.
Lichtman says what is needed is more schools.
“I think there’s five schools in total in Canada,” said Litchman. “More vets are retiring than are graduating.”
Only a few hundred veterinary students graduate across the entire country each year.
B.C.'s minister of post-secondary education says a new veterinary school is not going to happen in the province anytime soon.
“That’s a significant undertaking that would be years in the making,” said Selina Robinson.
Back at the Children’s Farm, if one of the larger animals needs a major surgery, the owner isn’t sure where she can now take it for the procedure.
“The last time we needed surgery, it was up in Mill Bay at a vet, but they are no longer doing larger animals,” said Koenders.
That means B.C.'s vet shortage could be a matter of life or death on the farm.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
What is whooping cough and should Canadians be concerned as Europe declares outbreak?
There is currently a whooping cough epidemic in Europe, with 10 times as many cases compared to the previous two years. While an outbreak has not been declared nationwide in Canada, whooping cough is regularly detected in the country.
Ontario Provincial Police arrest 64 suspects in child sexual exploitation investigation
Ontario Provincial Police say 64 suspects are facing a combined 348 charges in connection with a series of child sexual exploitation investigations that spanned the province.
'Summer of discontent': Federal unions vow to fight new 3-day a week office mandate
Federal unions are launching legal challenges and encouraging public sector workers to file "tens of thousands" of grievances over the new mandate requiring federal workers to return to the office at least three days a week in the fall.
Watch fighter jet pilots pummel fake enemy ship off coast of Philippines
The United States and Philippines held annual joint-training drills just off the Southeast Asian nation’s western coast on Wednesday. Military forces sunk a 'mock' enemy warship – the BRP Lake Caliraya, which was a decommissioned tanker made in China.
'Ozempic babies': Reports of surprise pregnancies raise new questions about weight loss drugs
Numerous women have shared stories of 'Ozempic babies' on social media. But the joy some experience in discovering pregnancies may come with anxiety about the unknowns.
OPINION What King Charles' schedule being too 'full' to accommodate son suggests
Prince Harry, the Duke of Sussex, has made headlines with his recent arrival in the U.K., this time to celebrate all things Invictus. But upon the prince landing in the U.K., we have already had confirmation that King Charles III won't have time to see his youngest son during his brief visit.
'I killed four people': Trial hears video evidence of Jeremy Skibicki at Winnipeg trial
“I killed four people,” alleged serial killer Jeremy Skibicki told two homicide detectives during a recorded interview played as evidence in his trial Wednesday.
AstraZeneca says it will withdraw COVID-19 vaccine globally as demand dips
AstraZeneca said on Tuesday it had initiated the worldwide withdrawal of its COVID-19 vaccine due to a 'surplus of available updated vaccines' since the pandemic.
Seafood, eat food: Calgary Stampede releases Midway menu
The Calgary Stampede has released its menu of sweet, salty and spicy treats available on the Midway for the Greatest Outdoor Show on Earth.