Skip to content
CARE for Pets logo

CARE for Pets™

Leading Consumer Advocate for Pets
  • Home
  • Veterinary Care
  • Medications
  • Insurance
  • Adopt
  • News Blog
  • About Us

Category: Adoption

New Data Shows Increase in Number of Dogs and Cats Killed in U.S. Animal Shelters for First Time in 5 Years

June 11, 2022 Admin

Best Friends Animal Society, a leading animal welfare organization that promotes pet adoption, no-kill animal rescue, and spay-and-neuter, recently RELEASED…

Continue Reading →

Posted in: Adoption, Animal Shelters

San Jose Animal Care Center Allegedly Kept Dogs And Cats In Dirty Kennels

August 10, 2019 Admin

Videos and photos taken this spring by a former volunteer at the SAN JOSE ANIMAL CARE CENTER (approximately 18,000 animals…

Continue Reading →

Posted in: Adoption, Animal Shelters

$1 Million Petco Foundation Grant Allegedly Misspent By Animal Care and Control Team of Philadelphia

January 15, 2019 Admin

The City Of Philadelphia Office Of The Controller recently RELEASED a review of Animal Care Control Team Philly’s (ACCT) management…

Continue Reading →

Posted in: Adoption, Animal Shelters

California Becomes First U.S. State To Ban Pet Stores From Selling Commercially Bred Animals

January 1, 2019 Admin

The state of California has become the 1st U.S state to ban pet retail stores from selling dogs, cats or…

Continue Reading →

Posted in: Adoption, Animal Shelters, Animal Welfare

Investigation Spotlights Rescue Groups Buying Dogs At Breeder Auctions

May 19, 2018 Admin

A recent investigation by THE WASHINGTON POST spotlights the practice of Dog rescuers buying dogs from breeders at commercial auctions.…

Continue Reading →

Posted in: Adoption, Animal Shelters

California May Become First U.S. State To Ban Stores That Sell Commercially Bred Pets

June 27, 2017 Admin

California could become the first state in the nation to ban pet stores from selling commercially bred pets which includes…

Continue Reading →

Posted in: Adoption, Animal Shelters, Animal Welfare

National Study Shows Decrease in Euthanasia of Companion Animals in U.S. Shelters

April 2, 2017 Admin

Recently released data from a national animal shelter study by the American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals…

Continue Reading →

Posted in: Adoption, Animal Shelters

New Pet Adoption Website Enables Home-To-Home Adoptions

February 7, 2017 Admin

A new pet adoption website was recently launched in late 2016 which seeks to keep pets out of animal shelters…

Continue Reading →

Posted in: Adoption

Low Complication Rate Claims Under Scrutiny At Maricopa County’s Animal Shelter

May 20, 2015 Admin

A recent investigation by The Arizona Republic on the nation’s second largest public animal shelter reveals potential flaws on reported…

Continue Reading →

Posted in: Adoption, Animal Shelters, Pet Care, Veterinary

New Bill Proposes Tax Credit For Adopting Homeless Pets In New York

February 15, 2015 Admin

Council Member Julissa Ferreras (D-Queens) recently introduced a new bill to the New York City Council which proposes to provide…

Continue Reading →

Posted in: Adoption

Posts navigation

← Older posts

RECENT POSTS

  • FTC Takes Second Action Against Private Equity Firm, Increased Scrutiny of Veterinary Hospital Acquisitions June 30, 2022
  • Federal Trade Commission Intervenes in Private Equity Firm’s Acquisition of Veterinary Hospitals, Citing Antitrust Concerns June 18, 2022

THE CORPORATIZATION OF VETERINARY MEDICINE

The acquisition of private-owned animal hospitals by corporate entities such as veterinary consolidators has accelerated over the last few years and is largely invisible to most pet owners because consolidators view the corporatization of a practice as a marketing liability. This has potentially serious implications for competition, pet healthcare costs and may worsen the labor shortage of veterinarians and veterinary technicians.
Are Consolidators Helping or Hurting Veterinary Medicine?

MANY CORPORATE PRACTICES LED BY NON-VETERINARIANS
Study conducted by CARE for Pets™ reveals that the majority of veterinary consolidators are led by non-veterinarians. These corporate entities employ a large infrastructure of managers and support teams and require significantly greater revenue to be profitable. It's estimated that 1 out of every 4 companion animal practices in the u.s. are now owned by corporate consolidators.
CEOs of Veterinary Consolidators and Hospital Groups

 

IN FOCUS: LABOR UNION ACTIVITY IN VETERINARY MEDICINE
First Veterinary Practice on East Coast to Unionize
According to union leadership, “today’s victory put the veterinary industry and private equity investors on notice about making sure their business model is based on equity and respect. We can’t afford to let this industry go the path of so many other industries destroyed by private equity investors. Now the hard work begins.”

 

THE IMPACT OF PRODUCTION-BASED PAY FOR VETERINARIANS
Today, approximately 2 out of 3 full-time associate veterinarians are paid on commission. Compensation models for veterinarians consist either of a fixed salary, salary plus commission, or 100% commission. Any source of income generated by the doctor for the animal hospital while seeing a client is used to calculate their commission or "production". This has potentially serious implications on pet healthcare costs.

 

CASE STUDY: Lack of Ownership Transparency in Veterinary Practices

Study conducted by CARE for Pets™ reveals many veterinary consolidators communicate misleading statements about ownership information on their individual practice websites which is most likely to create a false impression to pet owners that the practice is independently owned and locally operated.
Is Your 'Local' Animal Hospital Corporate-Owned?

IVPA EXCLUSIVE INTERVIEW: WHY LOCAL MATTERS
CARE for Pets™ interviews the President of the Independent Veterinary Practitioners Association (IVPA) about the importance, benefits, and value of independently owned & locally operated veterinary practices to pet owners and their companion animals, and to the local community.
Interview with Dr. Bonnie Bragdon of the IVPA

WILL PRIVATE EQUITY FIRMS TAKEOVER PET INDUSTRY?
Today, private equity (PE) firms control thousands of veterinary practices, major pet retailers, pet insurance companies and pet product manufacturers. Other pet care startups are founded and led by former employees of private equity firms and it is not disclosed in a transparent manner.
Private Equity Investments in Pet Care Industry

PRIVATE EQUITY ACQUISITION IS ANTICOMPETITIVE
The Federal Trade Commission (FTC) says "private equity firms increasingly engage in roll up strategies that allow them to accrue market power off the commission’s radar."
FTC Intervenes PE Acquisition Citing Antitrust Concerns

 

ROLL-UPS MAY EXACERBATE VETERINARIAN SHORTAGE
Corporate entities such as private equity (PE) firms engage in roll-ups (buys several companies in the same market and merges them together) to enhance value and drive higher earnings. Veterinary consolidation leads to fewer and larger firms (less choices for workers). Its prioritization on short-term profits may pressure veterinarians to see high numbers of patients and adhere to appointment time restrictions. These working conditions may exacerbate the labor shortage of veterinarians and veterinary technicians.

 

OUR MISSION | TRADEMARKS | CONTACT

Copyright © Watchdog Media Group™
All Rights Reserved 2014-2022

Disclaimer: CARE for Pets™ (CFP™) - Part of the CARE for Animals Network™ (CFAN™), does not guarantee accuracy of displayed data nor endorse or recommend any pet products and services which may also include veterinary practices, veterinarians, pet insurance, and animal welfare organizations.

Copyright © 2022 CARE for Pets™ — Stout theme by GoDaddy