Islandwide veterinarian shortage causes stress for owners of large animals
CBC News reports on the shortage of veterinarians in the Canadian Province of Prince Edward Island (P.E.I.). Despite having the Atlantic Veterinary College in Charlottetown, P.E.I. has a shortage of large-animal doctors, leaving some horse owners desperate for equine care. There are about 800 horses on P.E.I. without access to a veterinarian, local horse owner Julia Smith estimates. "It is very frustrating and very terrifying because these guys are part of our family. And if you can't get your mother help — that's how we feel about our horses," Smith said. Dr. Dominique Griffon, the Atlantic Veterinary College's dean, says it can be tough for P.E.I. to retain grads given the opportunities they have to work elsewhere. "The difficulty we're facing is a differential in terms of salaries. The salaries are much higher in the United States," she says. "It's also an opportunity for Canadians to go to the U.S., or other provinces where perhaps the economy is a little stronger, like Ontario."
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