Wow, it makes me so sad to read about staff being verbally and physically abused. That is just awful. I have had delayed appointments with my primary vet here in MD. We used to be able to call and be seen within that same week; now they are scheduling 2-3months out. In Oct I noticed our Aussie, Arya, would toe touch with her R hind when standing. I called my vet and they said they could not see her until December due to staffing shortages. Luckily we were able to see a vet at another clinic the first weekend of Nov and then saw a specialist last week who informed us Arya has bone cancer. Her amputation was scheduled for 12/7 but unfortunately they had a few staff members come down with covid so they had to reschedule the surgery for 12/13. They simply do not have enough staff to operate normally if someone gets sick. Yes - I was frustrated - but I stayed calm and polite as I know it's hard for them and it is not their fault in any way and I wish more people would understand that. 

We will be moving to San Diego in 2 months and I am starting to think I should find and book an appointment with an oncologist there now as we'd like to do chemo for Arya if it is still an option after her leg gets sent off for pathology. I had thought maybe these staffing issues at vet clinics was just in our area as we live in a rural area but am now seeing from here that it is a nationwide problem.

As a nurse, I know how hard it is to work in short staffed conditions. And I find it very interesting that the vet world is experiencing something very similar to what nurses and other hospital staff are facing. I left bedside nursing a year before the pandemic due to burnout and many of my fellow nurses that stayed, quickly left during the pandemic due to extreme stress and burnout. Many people were unkind to them when all they were doing was their best for their patients. My heart and gratitude goes out to all of the vets, vet techs, receptionists that are going through these tough times - I hope things get better soon.