Vol. 2 No. 9
OCTOBER 6, 2023
VET INDUSTRY 6 | RUNWAY 15 | BELL GAME 20 | VETERANS’ VOICE 23
• DIG DEEPER •
Pueblo animal hospital provides insight on vet industry, crises faced
T
By Rory Harbert
Caring for our vets, techs, pets
Photo by Rory Harbert
| COMMUNITY | ACCOUNTABILITY | CURIOSITY | CONNECTION |
he vet industry is reaching a boiling point, in Pueblo and throughout the nation. Small communities face problems with recruiting veterinary science graduates as veteran veterinarians retire. Graduates grapple with student loans in the hundreds of thousands of dollars. Emergency hospitals are overloaded with cases, as primary care clinics cannot take on any new clients. The price of care is increasing, as quality of care increases—but the cost of supplies and medication has gone up as well. These problems have been compounded with the pandemic, with its explosion of pet owners without established vets and animals that went unspayed/unneutered due to closure, causing more litters of cats and dogs. It is an endless cycle of increasing demand and decreasing professionals available to address, and Pueblo is not immune to this. Last October, Dr. Patti Canchola, who has practiced veterinary medicine for 33 years, became the sole veterinarian at Dr. Patti Canchola, a veterinarian at Pets and Friends Animal Hospital, performed a neutering procedure on Bomer, a yellow labrador retriever training to be the therapy dog for the Pets and Friends Animal Hospital, 3625 Pueblo West Fire Department. Owner Peggy Martin said that Canchola has been her veterinarian for over 10 years, having cared for her now-passed lab, Jack, who was the previous Baltimore Ave. This change followed the station dog. Photo by Rory Harbert. potential patients to be turned away. beloved pet’s health is at risk. retirement of Dr. Lori Mugasis, after a de“I think without the Humane Society had not stepped “Generally, veterinarians can’t say no; big hearts,” cades-long career serving the Pueblo community and up to do their Wellness Clinic and without the three Canchola said. “We want to help everything, fix everyits animals. house-call veterinarians—we’d be in a real crunch,” thing. And those of us who can’t say no, bring on a “If you are comparing us to other practices, we’re not the 2017 American Human Hero Veterinarian award heavy caseload, and then the staff is overwhelmed. So a busy as Mesa, who has eight doctors now.” Canchola winner said. “Because they have really given us options there comes a time when, as hard as it is, you have to said. “But from a previous three-doctor practice down to at least give people some help. They’ve been a godsend them away to go find help elsewhere.” to one—it’s been challenging.” send.” Pets and Friends may have experienced additional This solo operation resulted in the office being closed This has been a hardship for both staff members and strain from the shortage of vets, but this hospital was alon Fridays, for the well-being of everyone on staff. Unowners, whose compassion fortunately, as their schedule became tighter, it forced VET INDUSTRY continued on page 6 current patients to wait longer for appointments—and lies with the patient, where a