Kamloops vet calls on community to help fund 24-hour clinic

Two Kamloops, B.C., veterinarians are appealing directly to local pet lovers to help fund an urgently needed 24-hour clinic in the city.

The appeal comes amid a surge in pet ownership and a growing shortfall in vets, many of whom are leaving the industry due to burnout. 

Adrian Helmers, who runs Neighbourhood Veterinary Hospital with fellow vet Megan Broschak, says there is already an after-hours pool of vets, but the challenges with overwork are causing other clinics in town to limit their on-call services to existing patients.

One hospital has gone so far as to pull out of the after-hours pool and has started referring pets to neighbouring Kelowna, two hours away. 

"We're in a bit of a state of emergency with veterinary medicine, not just in Kamloops but all of Canada," she told Daybreak Kamloops host Shelley Joyce.

As a result, Helmers and her veterinary partner say they would like to start a 24-hour pet hospital in Kamloops.

Helmers says her vision is a well-situated hospital that would be open all hours of the day throughout the year.

"We'll allow for walk-ins and emergency referrals from other clinics."

Despite the need, Helmers is still working to secure a location, pass regulatory approvals and secure sufficient funding for the site.

"We're easily looking at a startup cost of around $5 million, so it's not a small cost, that's for sure."

As a newer vet, she says she is running into issues securing funding from banks, so she's looking at alternatives, including a direct appeal to the community.

Later this month, Helmers and her partner are hosting a community fundraising event where they will meet with potential donors and landlords about the project.

It's a smart move, according to Thompson Rivers University teaching professor Dan Thompson. Part of his research looks at how people and companies access loans.

He said crowdfunding is a good way to get startup funds.