When I started my career in 1989, there were only two independently owned veterinary practices in Eden Prairie. The city was growing and families were attracted to the new high school (circa 1981) and all the cul-de-sacs that provided a safe haven for children and pets to play. The police would rescue pets and help desperate citizens with lockouts and flat tires. Animal control officers rounded up off-leash dogs and processed dog bite violations on a daily basis.
Prairie Village Pet Hospital was a full-service veterinary hospital, vaccinating healthy pets and treating all problems that came through the door, including emergencies. We also provided boarding and grooming services. The 1990s were our “Camelot years.” Technical schools were flooded with students wanting to be veterinary technicians, which provided new strength and necessary support for our growing industry. Specialty and 24-hour emergency clinics moved in, offering services comparable to veterinary teaching hospitals within minutes of our hospital.
The millennium brought an increased awareness of the human animal bond and pets were recognized as critical providers of emotional support. A soft spot developed for pets without homes, and animal rescues took off. Charitable dollars flooded in, producing state-of-the-art shelters with hired veterinarians vaccinating, deworming and sterilizing unwanted pets. Most veterinary practitioners shifted their focus to dentistry, orthopedics and more complex soft tissue surgeries. The purebred dog would have to take a back seat to the underprivileged mixed breed, at least for now.
Through the years, veterinarians have been able to maintain stable revenues, even during the worst of times. In 2009 our numbers did drop a bit, but we never laid off staff. We actually recruited more. As it turns out, the Great Recession would be the last time veterinarians and veterinary technicians were readily available for employment.
In the past decade, there has been a significant rise in corporate consolidation of well-managed veterinary practices. Even Walmart has started building veterinary kiosks in their Florida stores. Jobs that require hand skills have lost their appeal. Like plumbers and electricians, veterinary technicians are scarce and have since earned the name “unicorns.” Every veterinarian needs one more!
In March of 2020, we all got locked up, except for the essential workers. There were questions about the “essentialness” of veterinarians, but they were muted quickly. Soon we were scrambling to provide service in the safest way possible and implementing the new standard: curbside care. We didn’t realize how inefficient communicating over the telephone would be, and the phone was ringing off the hook! Thank God we just invested in a phone system that provided eight lines instead of three. If a veterinary clinic routinely scheduled 15 minute appointments, then the workload just doubled, because now even vaccine appointments took 30 minutes. It appeared that most clinics didn’t have enough urgent slots available for daytime emergencies and were quickly diverting clients to anyone that could take them.
Fifteen years ago, we invested in training and technologies to effectively provide urgent care. I’ve been fortunate to have a seasoned staff determined to learn new skills, including ultrasound, that takes a lot of time and patience to perfect. My associate, Dr. Hargreaves, is an amazing surgeon, dentist and clinician. As far as productivity in the workplace goes, we’re toe to toe and sometimes face to face, as we run in and out of examination rooms doing our best to provide the service you deserve.
We have temporarily suspended some noncore services, like house calls and home euthanasia. We are still committed to same-day service and are accepting new clients, but be prepared to pay a deposit on your first appointment. The deposit will be put toward your services the day of your appointment. Unfortunately, we’ve had a lot of new vet shoppers who haven’t shown up for their appointments. We do see walk-ins, but most clients with sick pets drop them off for the day, because challenging cases are rarely solved in a half hour.
FYI, the pipeline of homeless pets was temporarily shut down as everybody and their neighbors decided to purchase a “designer puppy” with the genetic constitution of a Starbucks latte and equally overpriced. Rumor has it, Eden Prairie Animal Control has been defunded and they’re building a pet lounge in the police station.
Things change in life, but my commitment to you will not: From routine to extreme, we’ll be there for you!
Prairie Village Pet Hospital is located at 7815 Terrey Pine Ct in Eden Prairie. You may learn more about them at pvph.net.