Cattle rancher worries as northern Alberta vet clinic reduces services
CBC
Cattle operator Dan Bloomfield wasn't surprised when he learned High Prairie Veterinary Services was at risk of winding down operations.
"For at least the last year, maybe more, [with] the service they've provided, they might as well have been closed," he said.
Bloomfield says he and other livestock producers in High Prairie, 370 kilometres northwest of Edmonton, are concerned about getting adequate access to veterinary services.
The town's only vet clinic, High Prairie Veterinary Services, announced in July it would close on July 28.
The clinic, owned by Calgary-based Mosaic Veterinary Partners, didn't cite a reason for the closure, but acknowledged it would "present challenges to our clients."
It offered help to clients, such as transferring pet and livestock records to nearby clinics.
Despite the announcement, the clinic didn't close at the end of July.
On the day of closure, High Prairie Veterinary Services posted on Facebook that it would be "restructuring."
The clinic has since posted new, limited hours online. It has also posted notices informing clients about when there won't be a veterinarian on-site.
Bloomfield has up to 125 head of cattle on his ranch 35 km southwest of High Prairie. He's been ranching there since 1992 and said vet access has slowly gone downhill since Mosaic Veterinary Partners took over the town's clinic in 2017.
He said he is one of many residents who have had challenges getting livestock seen by a vet. He now brings his animals to a clinic in Valleyview, roughly one hour away.
"Since this new outfit took over, it has not been good," said Bloomfield.
Extra travel time can be crucial when it comes to sick animals, he said. He said he has lost a couple of animals when he couldn't access a vet. Losing livestock means losing income, he said.
Bloomfield also said redirecting High Prairie residents to clinics in Peace River or Valleyview could overwhelm those areas.
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