The last vets: Abuse, financial stress, burnout sees vets on the brink | Short Documentary

In a country where there are more pets than people, what happens if we didn't have enough vets to service all them? Because that's the crisis we're currently in -- -- many vets are giving up on their love of animals and leaving the industry due to burnout, client abuse, financial stress and poor mental health. The situation is so bad, there is a NSW parliamentary enquiry into the vet shortage.

When pet owners refuse to pay and leave their vet in debt, when vets are physically and mentally abused by their clients and when vets are twice as likely to die by suicide, how long can vets go on in a straining industry with a shattering dream?

Ilias Bakalla travels to regional and rural areas in NSW - where shortages are felt most - to speak to the last remaining vets about what could happen if nothing changes.

Chapters:
00:00 – 00:54 Intro
00:55 – 02:08 Why is there a vet shortage in Australia? Meet Tess
02:09 – 2:35 Why Tess decided to become a vet
2:36 – 2:54 Did you know Australia has more pets than people? (And not that many vets)
2:55 – 3:08 Why is vet care so expensive?
3:09 – 4:04 Why Tess is owed $70,000 from unpaid vet bills
4:04– 4:37 Why are vets being abused by clients?
4:38 – 5:49 When you can’t fill a job vacancy for three years: Meet Patty
5:50 – 6:36 What impact could vet shortages have on food prices?
6:37 - 8:09 The tragic toll of the industry – why is the suicide rate so high among vets?
8:09 - 9:45 What needs to change?

Reporter/Producer: Ilias Bakalla
Shooter/Editor: Gavin Blyth
Graphics: Caroline Huang

The Feed is the home of inspiring documentaries, hard-hitting investigations and razor-sharp satire. Subscribe here: ttps://bit.ly/3e9mv1q

Network Terms & Conditions: https://www.sbs.com.au/terms
Privacy Policy: https://www.sbs.com.au/privacy
Feedback or complaints: https://www.sbs.com.au/complaints