Supporting small business doesn’t just feel good, it IS good. Good for helping your neighbors to make a living, good for forming long-term relationships with product and service providers, good for creating local jobs, good for boosting your town’s economy, and good for sustaining the businesses that make your community unique.
Most people assume their veterinary care provider is a locally owned and operated small business, but that may not be the case anymore. Over the past few decades, many long-established neighborhood veterinary practices have been purchased by large companies or private equity groups who see enormous financial opportunity within the pet care industry. In other words, small town veterinary care has turned into a big profit center.
Large consolidators are able to utilize economies of scale and a centralized management structure to their advantage in achieving efficiencies that are out of reach for an independent practice. Unfortunately, revenue generated by the practice is returned to a home office, which may or may not be located in the United States.
These acquisitions tend not be publicized, and there are no obvious changes that would alert clients to new ownership – at least not right away – so It can be hard to tell the difference between local and corporate-owned hospitals. Eventually, you may start to see modified pricing structures (such as the addition of new fees) doctors and/or staff members you don’t recognize, the introduction of new policies and procedures, and maybe some aesthetic upgrades to the facility.
When it comes to your pet’s care, working with an independently owned and operated veterinarian is a great way to ensure your furry family member gets personalized medical attention from a provider who has their best interests in mind. We are proud to be locally owned and member of the Independent Veterinary Practitioners Association (IVPA), which symbolizes our commitment to our patients, our clients, and the community as a whole.
You do have a choice. Choose local. Vet local.
Click on the IVPA logo below or visit www.vetlocal.us for more information.
