A Nevada podcaster has been talking about how private equity is taking over major companies across America. Now, it’s hitting our very own and beloved vet clinics where we take our pets for care. Private equity companies, who try to turn a profit and eventually resell businesses, own approximately 75% of emergency vet care. Private equity is ruining so many businesses across America. Now, this podcaster is speaking up about this horrific trend that’s making it so many Americans can’t even afford to own pets.
TikToker Talarico @yersocialistdad explains that private equity ownership of vet care is hurting Americans who own pets or want to own pets. As he puts it, “The result of this is that people are being priced out of the simple act of having a pet, and that is disgusting.” Talarico spoke with people one-on-one about how this has been affecting them. One viewer told him, “Vet care is so incredibly expensive and they always push for tests that aren’t needed. I recently lost my soulmate cat because of that.”
Another person shared with Talarico that they work for a vet clinic and noticed the chaos as well. They shared with them, “We are one of the 25% of ER vets still privately owned. Private equity is making it impossible to compete.” Taking your pet for a regular visit can be expensive. If there’s an emergency and you end up at an animal hospital, you’ll likely be paying hundreds to thousands of dollars you never expected to pay for care.
Unfortunately, vet care is so expensive that pet owners are pushed into a terrible situation. When an emergency happens and it’s going to be tens of thousands of dollars, that’s unaffordable for most Americans. Then, they’re left with the terrible decision of having to euthanize their pet instead. Talarico shared another sad fact. Because of the rising costs of pet care, many people are realizing they’ll never be able to afford another pet. These animals are companions to so many of us. They’re family members who teach us responsibility, care, and reduce stress within households. Having to make the decision to not have a pet due to rising prices is simply awful.
Personally, this resonates with me because we have a dog who has taught my children endless responsibility. I couldn’t imagine not being able to keep her just because prices in America keep rising. I’m privileged enough to not have to make a decision like this but what about so many others who aren’t so lucky? Why is it that we can barely afford to take care of ourselves, much less our pets in America? As Talarico states, “For this to happen in America is a terrible, shameful thing. We deserve better. But most importantly, our pets deserve better.”
One commenter shared on Talarico’s post, “They are stealing ever bit of happiness and joy we have.” That’s just it – it’s a country that doesn’t care about the misery its people deal with on a daily basis. Another commenter shared, “When I got my dog, general checkups, shots, and prevention was like around $100. Now it’s closer to $800 or so. It’s wild.” On top of this, we need to consider the fact that private equity goes beyond taking over our vet clinics. It’s making itself known in housing, day cares, and so much more. It’s becoming a part of our daily lives. We do deserve better than this. When will it stop?
