Veterinarians and their teams across the country are seeing more new pets and more sick ones than in pre-pandemic times. The Associated Press reports despite extending hours, hiring more staff and refusing new patients, the load is heavy. Some practices have hire counselors to help staff members deal with burnout and fatigue.
The numbers support the burden. Approximately 12.6 million U.S. households got new pets after March 2020, according to study by the American Pet Products Association. Plus, fewer people relinquished their pets last year.
Source: Associated Press, May 11, 2021. Link. “Fear of the unknown with the pandemic leads to more intense emotions from our clients,” said Levitzke. He’s seen expletive-laced outbursts and threats from pet owners, and also outpourings of love, with cards and baked goods. After the toll on the staff became noticeable, they hired a compassion fatigue specialist for support.