Let’s Chat: Would you go into debt for your pet?

By Linda Tooth on April 2, 2025.

I had a feeling last week’s article was not going to be a stand-alone piece. How could it be when people are continuing to post on social media the need to re-home their pets, or people are stating they have found pets that have been abandoned and are now trying to navigate care for them.

I was recently informed about an interview that appeared on CBC News – Fifth Estate, titled Pet Care Inc. hosted by Steven D’Souza. In this explosive episode D’Souza delves deep into the animal care business and what is happening in this country.

From animal shelters in Ontario over capacity – this is not new to us out west as ours are also over capacity – to pet parents being unable to afford care, to investment and private equity firms buying veterinarian clinics.

It has been suggested that the state of animal care in this country is more about making money than providing care at a reasonable cost for our pets.

In 2010, D’Souza stated that almost all veterinarian clinics in Canada were independently owned. Now in 2025, 20% of veterinarian clinics are corporately owned. Corporations like Vet Care, Vet Strategy, National Veterinary Association (NVA) and VCA are examples of firms buying up veterinarian clinics across this country.

D’Souza reported that in Calgary 31 clinics are corporately owned. Some of these clinics are increasing prices two to three times a year. I checked with someone very involved in the vet business in Medicine Hat and surrounding area and they informed me that at present our clinics have not yet been taken over by big corporations.

Pets mean the world to us. I have two cats and a dog and I do take them to the vet regularly for checkups and vaccines. My cat Lily was recently at the vet, and I was told she needed dental surgery to remove teeth that had rotted or had broken off.

I have never brushed my cats’ teeth, but I do know people who have done that for their pets. Hindsight is a great thing. Anyway, I made the decision to have that surgery done and inquired as to the cost prior to booking the appointment.

The vet felt it would be a minimum $1,000 charge for everything to be done. She did call me after Lily had x-rays prior to surgery and said roots and other teeth would also need to be removed, and the cost was now $1,700.

This price included the antibiotics she would need for seven days post-op. I will admit to slight heart palpitations, but this is my baby. We spend money on children so they can take part in sports, dance competitions or whatever else they are involved in, so why not on our pets?

When I went to pick her up after work, I am not sure who was more excited to see the other, me or her. That amount is still on my credit card. I work two part-time jobs to make ends meet and am working to pay that off.

I guess I am lucky big corporations do not dictate prices here in southeast Alberta. I cannot imagine what the price would be if they did.

Pets and children are a gift; we are lucky to be blessed with them. I know food and care can be a lot at times but the love they give is worth it.

Have a Meowtastic Day and keep reading.

Linda Tooth is a part-time communications instructor at Medicine Hat College

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