Target: Rachel Dean, Director of Clinical Research and Excellence in Practice for VetPartners
Goal: End pet care sector strike that is damaging the ability of veterinarians to provide life-saving treatments.
The United Kingdom (UK) is dealing with its first major strike in the pet care industry. Employees of Valley Vets have been on strike for weeks, with no end in sight. They cite poor pay and forced overcharges to customers as the primary drivers of the strike. The damage caused to the human beings involved is bad enough, with many employees reportedly made to work at or below minimum wage. But the harm potentially caused to animals is even more grave and irreversible.
The large-scale privatization of veterinary clinics in the UK has prompted a cutthroat mentality where profit supersedes any other concern. Veterinarians have reported being forced by bosses to charge soaring prices for every conceivable procedure, large or small. As a consequence, pet parents hit with these massive fees often must make a heartbreaking choice: somehow secure the funds necessary for treatment, or have their beloved pets put to sleep. Euthanizing pets has apparently risen to a great extent at Valley Vets and other affiliated centers of private veterinary corporation VetPartners.
Sign the petition below to demand this conglomerate compromise with its employees so that it can fulfill its oath to serve in the best interest of pets and pet parents.
PETITION LETTER:
Dear Dr. Dean,
“Providing the best possible care of pets comes above all else across our veterinary practices.” A spokesperson for VetPartners made this statement in the wake of the workers’ strike afflicting Valley Vets. This assertion must be backed by decisive action. Consider this account from a veterinarian that VetPartners has employed: “a dog with an acute abdominal illness was hospitalised. If we could have hung on for a few more days, there’s a really good chance it would have made a full recovery. But we ended up putting that dog to sleep because we reached the economic end of the road.”
Such unfortunate anecdotes are not uncommon, and this narrative needs to change if VetPartners is to succeed. Negotiate in good faith on the concerns raised by workers, from base pay to alleged overcharges of pet parents seeking aid. Arrive at a deal that will empower the individuals tasked with pet care and that will quite likely save the lives of countless pets.
Sincerely,
[Your Name Here]
Photo Credit: Tim1965
