Local vets, pets feel pinch of tightening economy

By By Betsy Parker

By Betsy Parker

Special to the Rappahannock News

With auto, home and land sales stagnant, the stock market plunging and unemployment skyrocketing, people are taking stock, analysts say, of what's important to their lives. And what area veterinarians say is turning out to be most important to many in the region, is the comfort and love provided by pets.

Though times are trending tough, said Dr. Johnny Clark of Blue Mountain Animal Clinic, pet care is among the last thing to slack in hard times. Still, he said, some animal owners are showing signs of budget stress.

"Regarding the economy and veterinary care, I am seeing folks being a tad more conservative," Clark said. "People are careful how they spend money these days, but pet care ranks high on the list of priorities for many. That is admirable."

"With my practice being primarily acupuncture and chiropractic treatments for chronic pain and poor performance, usually at this time of the year I am up to my neck in a waiting list as people are hurrying to finish the season or are getting their [horses] tuned up for the season," said Flint Hill veterinarian Dr. Joyce Harman.

The hardest-hit parts of the U.S. economy — real estate and auto sales — are slow in affecting the region, said Flint Hill's Dr. Scott Dove. Still, though government jobs insulate the area somewhat, pet owners are feeling the pinch.

"I've found that, in small-animal care, I'm sending fewer patients out with referrals to specialists," said Dove, whose Companion Animal Clinic treats cats, dogs and exotics. "Clients are less likely to have that extra money for a $3,000 or $4,000 procedure."

Instead, Dove said, pet owners are tending to stick with traditional medicine offered by general practitioners who traditionally charge less than surgeons.

"Most of my clients had long ago begun doing their own vaccines," something made possible in the mid-1980s when the drugs for annual innoculations for dogs, cats, horses, most livestock and many exotics became over the counter rather than prescription, he added. "That saves a pet owner a ton of money. Every little bit helps."

Another change Dove sees is a decrease in "well animal check-ups," preventative care that many pet owners are foregoing now that money is tight.

The owner of Clevengers Corner Veterinary Care on the Rappahannock-Culpeper-Fauquier lines, Dr. Michael Watts said he, too, is seeing more deferred care than in the past.

When Clevengers opened three years ago, the economy was still humming. Watts' clinic seemed well-positioned to capture a lot of business from thousands of proposed single-family and townhomes. But since the downturn began late last year, his numbers are down, across the board.

"A hot topic among my collegues, what always comes up on lunch break, is that pet owners are putting off preventive care," such as routine check-ups, vaccines and dental care, Watts said.

"As a result, we're seeing sick pets whose owners might wait 'a day or two to see if they get better' before bringing them into the clinic. Well, often, they don't [get better], and the owner ends up with a bigger bill. It can be counterproductive."

Watts said that he expects, if the economy remains slow, that some clients will get to the point that they literally cannot afford to treat a pet's illness. In that case, he said, euthanasia could become the final option.

More bad news

The horse industry, too, has been hard hit by the economic downturn, said Dr. Kevin Dippert.

His Equine Reproduction Concepts in Amissville has seen a 14 percent drop in business from last year.

"Yes, there's been a distinct drop in the number of embryo transfers we're doing," Dippert said. "But, more, we're seeing a change in the business end of it. Sadly, we're getting more delinquent accounts, people not able to pay their bills. Times are tough."

In terms of his workforce, Dippert said that, though he's limiting time on the clock by hourly workers, he's been able to keep all his staff.

Dippert said that he expects the economy to regain strength, "I hope."

The overall downward spiral in the economy has had an effect on all levels of business, from privately owned small-animal practices, to larger-animal hospitals. Even ambulatory veterinarians are feeling the pinch.

"My clients have cut back on their local show attendance and seem to be saving their money for a few big shows," said Dr. Tim Casey, who treats small animals and large with acupuncture, chiropractic and western medicine.

"Larger practices with multiple veterinarians and a large inventory of equipment and drugs are looking at some very difficult economic times ahead. I really don't see any economic quick fix in the near future, and I expect it to get worse before it gets better."

Rose Hill Veterinary Practice in little Washington treats small and large animals — from dogs and horses to livestock and exotics.

In defense of the once thriving and still surviving local economy, small-animal vet Dr. Kimberley Cole said that, actually, "our practice has not seen a decline.

"People in Rappahannock County really take care of their pets. I've seen little decline in vaccinations, or flea and tick treatment. I think that, maybe, since we're the only big-animal hospital here in Rappahannock, that we aren't seeing as much of a decline.

"And, really, on the large-animal side, some bigger farms are cutting back on their livestock herds," she said.

Most of the bigger farms, though, handle all routine medical care, from vaccinations to treatment of small injuries.

"I've heard about people abandoning dogs or cats, even horses, but I think Rappahannock is pretty lucky. I've had a few clients contact us to help place their pets [a dog and a cat] since they lost their lease."

On the other end of the spectrum, animal shelters are suffering more with the economy, said Rappahannock Animal Welfare League chairman Sally Cunningham.

The situation is becoming dire for the non-profit, no-kill shelter in Amissville, Cunningham said. "Primarily, we've already seen a dip in unsolicited contributions," monetary gifts from friends and residents that the shelter relies on to provide care for pets until they can be adopted.

"It has been the same, every time there is a recession," she said. "We're cutting corners everywhere we can to stay on track. But I still find that people still really love their pets, and are unwilling to comprise their care. You'll have a family that will scrimp on their grocery bill bringing in stray cats to be neutered.

"Animals are important in this county," she said.

Animal Medical Center's Dr. John Rethman finds the same at his Warrenton clinic, formerly Fox Chase which served many in the region for nearly 40 years.

"People treat their pets like children," Rethman said. "They are an important part of the family."

The economy might shade many facets of daily life, he said, but pet care is among the last to be compromised.

"When people suffer financially, they'll still find a way to ensure that their pets are taken care of," said Blue Mountain's Clark. "Actually, when things are rough like this, pets are more important, not less. When we rank what's really important to us, we find our pets are a source of comfort."