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Category: PetSmart

PetSmart Announces Exclusive Partnership with Nom Nom

April 8, 2022 Admin

PetSmart which operates approximately 1,660 pet stores in the United States, Canada and Puerto Rico, recently ANNOUNCED an exclusive partnership…

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Posted in: Mars Petcare, Pet Food, PetSmart

PetSmart Partners with Allivet, Launches New Online Pharmacy

October 17, 2021 Admin

PetSmart, a leading pet retailer which operates approximately 1,650 stores in the United States, Canada and Puerto Rico recently ANNOUNCED…

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Posted in: Medications, PetSmart

PetSmart Expands Partnership with ShotVet for In-Store Vet Care

December 1, 2019 Admin

PetSmart which operates more than 1,650 pet stores in the U.S., Canada and Puerto Rico has recently announced an expanded…

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Posted in: PetSmart

Investigation Spotlights Dog Deaths During Or After Groomings At Nation’s Leading Pet Retailer

September 23, 2018 Admin

A nine-month INVESTIGATION conducted by NJ Advance Media was xenical released which documented 47 cases across 14 states since 2008…

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Posted in: Grooming, PetSmart

Chewy.com Is Now Selling Pet Medications Online

July 4, 2018 Admin

Online pet supplier Chewy.com recently announced that the company has entered the online pet pharmacy market and is now selling…

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Posted in: Medications, PetSmart

Grooming at PetSmart In The Spotlight After Alleged Dog Deaths

April 7, 2018 Admin

A dog dropped off at a PetSmart has become “the third to die at one of the stores in New…

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Posted in: Grooming, PetSmart

PetSmart Fires Groomer After Viral Video of Mishandled Dog

February 3, 2018 Admin

LAST UPDATED: THURSDAY, MARCH 1, 2018 A groomer at a PetSmart in Katy, Texas has been fired after a video…

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Posted in: Animal Welfare, Grooming, PetSmart

PetSmart Launches Online-Only Pet Pharmacy

December 2, 2017 Admin

PetSmart which operates more than 1,500 pet stores in the U.S., Canada and Puerto Rico recently launched PetSmart Pharmacy, a…

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Posted in: Medications, PetSmart

PetSmart To Acquire Leading Online Pet Retailer Chewy.com

April 21, 2017 Admin

PetSmart recently announced it has entered into a definitive agreement to acquire Chewy.com (Chewy Inc), the leading online pet retailer…

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Posted in: Pet Food, PetSmart, Products

PetSmart Lawsuit Spotlights Unregulated Pet Grooming Industry

December 8, 2016 Admin

The owners of a pet dachshund who died on May 15, 2016 during a grooming appointment at a San Mateo…

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Posted in: Animal Cruelty, Grooming, PetSmart

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.

 

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