Rising veterinary and animal care costs impact owners and shelters

Rising veterinary and animal care costs are impacting pet owners and shelters across the United States. In the Upper Valley region, veterinary service prices have increased approximately 54% since 2019, significantly outpacing the 31% inflation rate for general goods and services. This surge is attributed to rising vendor costs, industry consolidation, and corporate acquisitions of veterinary practices.

To address these financial barriers, some facilities like Claremont Animal Hospital have introduced monthly wellness programs to spread out the cost of preventive care. Meanwhile, animal shelters are facing similar pressures. The Pocatello Animal Shelter in Idaho has implemented increased adoption fees for dogs and cats to offset the rising costs of food and basic supplies, noting that these adjustments are necessary to balance operational expenses caused by general inflation.