Your Other Family Doctor

In the post-Covid era, the U.S. veterinary industry is in crisis, facing a massive problem with employee retention which makes it increasingly difficult for pet caregivers to access quality healthcare for their companion animals. The veterinary professionals who remain also suffer from widespread mental health and quality of life issues. As a bastion of public health helping to ensure food safety and control the spread of infectious diseases, the veterinary profession is vital to society, and we all have a stake in its well-being, whether we are pet owners or not. This memoir examines the industry with a critical eye, using the narrator's experiences to illustrate why the pandemic is not entirely to blame for the profession's struggles, which are rooted in widespread poor management practices. This story also serves as a cautionary tale to pet caregivers so they can better navigate the animal healthcare system and avoid common pitfalls in obtaining care. Finally, it discusses potential ways to overhaul and reform the industry, such as enhancing the legal status of companion animals, creating veterinary "candy striper" programs, and supporting labor unions for veterinary professionals. Readers are invited to accompany the author on a journey which begins with idealism and traverses the depths of disillusionment before turning toward the future with a blend of trepidation and hope.