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
BREAKING Police investigating shooting outside of Drake's Bridle Path mansion: source
Toronto police are investigating a shooting that took place outside of Drake’s Bridle Path mansion early Tuesday morning, a source tells CP24.
There's actually no such thing as vegetables. Here's why you should eat them anyway
The rumours are true: Vegetables aren't real — that is, in botany, anyway. While the term fruit is recognized botanically as anything that contains a seed or seeds, vegetable is actually a broad umbrella term.
'It looked so legit': Ontario man pays $7,700 for luxury villa found on Booking.com, but the listing was fake
An Ontario man says he paid more than $7,700 for a luxury villa he found on a popular travel website -- but the listing was fake.
The Met Gala was in full bloom with Zendaya, Jennifer Lopez, Mindy Kaling among the standout stars
The Met Gala and its fashionista A-listers on Monday included Jennifer Lopez, Zendaya and a parade of others in a swirl of flora and fauna looks on a green-tinged carpet lined by live foliage.
3 Indian nationals accused of murdering Hardeep Singh Nijjar facing court in B.C.
Three Indian nationals accused of murdering Sikh activist Hardeep Singh Nijjar are due to face court Tuesday over the killing that triggered a major diplomatic rift with India.
Israeli forces seize Rafah border crossing in Gaza, putting ceasefire talks on knife's edge
Israeli tanks seized control of Gaza's vital Rafah border crossing on Tuesday as Israel brushed off urgent warnings from close allies and moved into the southern city even as cease-fire negotiations with Hamas remained on a knife's edge.
Canadian cadets rock mullets and place second at U.S. military competition
Sporting mullets, Canadian Armed Forces officer cadets placed second in an annual military skills competition in the U.S.
Highlights from the 2024 Met Gala exhibit: Sleeping Beauty would wake up for these gowns
Sure, she was a royal princess and all. But there’s no way Sleeping Beauty — either before or after her nap — ever had quite the fabulous wardrobe that’s been assembled at the Metropolitan Museum of Art.
Noelia Voigt resigns as Miss USA, citing her mental health
Noelia Voigt, who was crowned Miss USA in November 2023, has announced she is resigning from her role, saying the decision is in the best interest of her mental health.