A large private equity firm has gone into partnership with a local animal hospital. They have deliberately kept the original name.

The first change in their policy was to no longer issue prescriptions directly to private pet medication pharmacies and encourage their clients to purchase from their online pharmacy. They will issue a written prescription, which has to be mailed into the private pharmacy.

The clinic’s pharmacy tends to charge more on many items than private pet pharmacies. They also raise prices on services, while eliminating others.

These private equity firms have gone into partnerships with veterinary clinics in many states, while outlawed in some.

They promise efficiency and cost-saving techniques to the clinics, such as minimal staffing. They are not doctors and have only one goal: to make money. Often, they eventually sell their interests to other outside firms. All this means higher costs passed onto the clients. So What? So, many pet owners will no longer be able to afford veterinary care for their pets.

Write to your representatives to prohibit more partnerships with other veterinary clinics in Vermont!

Brigitta Lawrence
Bristol