Maine vet clinic responds to I-Team investigation about surrendered dog

When I worked in clinic about half of the people needing emergency services would initially state they could not pay. We originally did payment plans (spreading the cost interest free sometimes to YEARS), and the majority of those would stop paying after a few month. You can send them to collections and then what? If they didn’t qualify for care credit, they’re usually well acquainted with collections already, you’re not getting payment. I was a vet tech, which means I’m a nurse, a dental hygienist, an imaging tech, a lab tech, an anesthesia tech, a surgical assistant, a janitor, and a mortician. I worked nights and week ends, I got bit and scratched, saw way too much death and suffering every day, and I was paid less than when I worked at Target. I burned out after a few years and had to quit, I was pretty well adjusted before that but it wrecked my body and mental health. I work in pet insurance now with other former vet techs and we all have similar stories. The DVMs were not much better of, making 70k out of school, with thousands a month of student loans, working at least 50h a week. No one is ripping you off. Medications and equipment are expensive. Facilities are expensive. Clinics with higher prices can at least pay their employees decently.

Pet insurance does not cover pre-existing conditions, even based on previous clinical signs without formal diagnosis. So enroll the day you adopt, don’t wait for issues to show up because they won’t be covered. Do your research, keep in mind insurance profits are regulated, so again no one is ripping you off, higher premiums = more claims are being paid. And finally if you can’t afford insurance, you can’t afford a pet. Food and preventatives are expensive, and they WILL get sick or injured at some point.

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