We, the undersigned, hereby petition for the fair regulation of veterinary practices and fees. It is imperative that the exorbitant fees charged by veterinary practices be properly regulated, as they pose a significant financial burden on pet owners without fair, reasonable and proportional justification.

Veterinary fees, particularly consultation charges, are often astronomical, causing undue strain on pet owners. While we understand that veterinary care involves various expenses such as tests, scans, and treatments, the consultation fees themselves are unjustly high. Furthermore, emergency out-of-hours fees are disproportionately inflated, exploiting pet owners during vulnerable moments.

We have witnessed first-hand the emphasis placed by veterinary hospitals on fees rather than the actual care of our beloved animals. In a recent experience, and in an attempt to gain advice about our pet’s health concerns, this unfortunately was overshadowed by discussions about financial matters that the staff member had to make us aware of due to company policy. When asked about any payment options, we were informed payment was needed at the time and in full. How is it expected of us as owners to just pay an invoice in full on the day especially given the current cost-of-living crisis and that certain areas may not be covered by an insurance policy? 

The initial emergency out-of-hours consultation fee of £250 when gaining initial advice over the phone then soon escalated to £315 within a few hours when our beloved pet unfortunately took a sudden turn for the worst, with then additional charges for services not even requested or agreed upon such as CPR being added to the invoice when we were at the veterinary hospital. At no point, were we informed about CPR taking place until it was mentioned about claiming via the insurance policy and yet the vet had opportunity to advise of this if this was indeed the case but failed to communicate this to us. Furthermore, this was also submitted to the insurance company by the vets in question and has since raised questionable doubt by them too due to the lack of content that was provided by them in relation to CPR apparently being undertaken as part of the claim.

CPR, when needed to be carried out, should also not be charged for as this should come as standard towards saving the lives of animals, much like that to when us as humans need CPR, where we have paramedics, nurses and doctors who can support us. Animals cannot also tell us when they are unwell either! It is disgusting to even comprehend that veterinary companies would actually seek to benefit in monetary terms from such actions towards saving the life of an animal.  

Furthermore, it is morally reprehensible for veterinary practices to prioritise financial gain over the welfare of animals. Our pets deserve compassionate and affordable care, not predatory pricing strategies that exploit their owners' love and concern.

We call for the following actions to be taken:

Regulation of Veterinary Fees: Implement regulations to ensure that veterinary consultation fees and emergency out-of-hours charges are fair, reasonable, and transparent.
Prioritise Animal Welfare: Emphasize the importance of prioritising animal welfare over financial gain in veterinary practices. Encourage veterinarians to focus on providing quality care without excessive financial burdens on pet owners.
Transparency and Accountability: Require veterinary practices to provide clear and itemised invoices detailing all charges incurred, ensuring transparency, honesty and accountability in billing practices.
Payment Plans: Encourage veterinary practices to offer flexible payment plans to assist pet owners in managing unexpected veterinary expenses, thereby preventing financial barriers to essential pet care.
Ethical Standards: Uphold ethical standards within the veterinary profession, discouraging practices that prioritise profit over the well-being of animals.

We urge that immediate action is taken to address the above areas by implementing regulations that ensure fair and reasonable veterinary fees. Our pets deserve nothing less than compassionate and affordable care, and it is our responsibility to advocate for their well-being.