These hospitals make millions of dollars annually, milking owners to save their pets, but those numbers aren’t reflected in wages.

The veterinary industry has no history of unionization, and is privatized. The cuddly, fluffy exterior of these hospitals hide an emaciated, senile, and aggressive animal underneath. Preying on the love of animals, these businesses maintain bare minimum levels of staff, and pay pennies. My first day they demoted a supervisor without notice for sticking up for staff. My second day the cleaner quit due to mistreatment from management. A couple weeks later, an ER technician quit on the spot and walked out. The facility is 24/7. Workers regularly pick up shifts in other departments to make overtime to pay the bills, even if their regular shift is 12 hours. These hospitals make millions of dollars annually, milking owners to save their pets, but those numbers aren’t reflected in wages. Even the highest paid workers at the hospital are not immune to the crushing nature of the industry. Rates of suicide in the veterinary profession are more than twice the rate of other medical professions, and more than four times the rate of the general population. This kind of work demonstrates the need for organized labour, and a glaring example of how capitalism needs to be taken out of its misery and put down.