>>> PET OWNERS THROUGHOUT THE
COUNTY HAVE BEEN FEELING THE
IMPACT OF A STATEWIDE VETERINARIAN SHORTAGE.
SOMETIMES THE WAIT FOR AN
APPOINTMENT IS WEEKS OR EVEN
MONTHS. >> CRITICAL RESOURCES FOR
ANIMALS AT SHELTERS ARE ALSO
STRETCHED THIN RIGHT NOW.
NBC 7 DANA WILLIAMS WENT TO THE
SAN DIEGO HUMANE SOCIETY TO
CHECK OUT HOW THEY ARE TRYING TO
HELP. >> Reporter: ONE OF THE BIGGEST
BARRIERS FOR PEOPLE WHO WANT TO
BECOME VETERINARIANS RIGHT NOW
IS THE COST.
THE SAN DIEGO HUMANE SOCIETY
KNOWS THAT BECAUSE THEY EMPLOYEE
DOZENS OF VETERINARIANS AND VET TECHS, SOME OF WHICH THROUGH
THOSE DOORS, AND THEY FELT IT.
>> GOOD GIRL.
>> STAY HERE.
>> Reporter: HERE, THERE ARE 26
FULL-TIME VETS AND A LOT MORE
VET TECHS.
>> THIS IS SO DIRTY!
>> Reporter: THE SAN DIEGO
HUMANE SOCIETY IS BETTER OFF
THAN MOST, BUT ACROSS THE STATE,
THERE IS A NEED FOR MORE
CANDIDATES IN BOTH ROLES.
>> THE ECONOMICS ARE BECOMING VERY DIFFICULT.
THERE HAS ALWAYS BEEN A
DISCONNECT.
IT’S SO EXPENSIVE TO GO TO VET
SCHOOL AND THE EARNINGS DON’T
ACTUALLY COMPARE WITH THE EXPENSE ONCE THEY GRADUATE.
>> Reporter: IT’S OFTEN NOT THE
PAY.
>> YOU WANT KEY FLUIDS, TOO?
>> Reporter: THAT ATTRACTS
PEOPLE TO THE CAREER.
>> THERE REALLY IS A PROFESSION
THAT ONE DOES BECAUSE OF
COMMITMENT AND PASSION AND LOVE.
>> Reporter: THAT IS WHY SDHS
SPONSORED TWO BILLS.
ONE OF WHICH WILL OFFER PAYMENTS
OF UP TO $150,000 TO HELP COVER
SCHOOL DEBT. BUT THE VET NEEDS TO AGREE TO
EITHER WORK FOR A CALIFORNIA
ANIMAL SHELTER OR AN UNDERSERVED
COMMUNITY FOR AT LEAST FIVE
YEARS, WHICH IS A DIFFERENT BEAST.
>> HERE AT SHELTER MEDICINE WE
DO REPTILES TO ANIMAL NEGLECT
AND LIVESTOCK.
>> Reporter: THIS IS A STAFF VET
FOR SAN DIEGO HUMANE. >> I COULD BE SEEING
APPOINTMENTS OR DOING ROUTINE
SPADE OR SOME ON THIS THINGS.
IT’S REWARDING.
>> Reporter: THE SECOND BILL
THEY SPONSORSED IS INCREASE
ACCESS TO TELEHEALTH THROUGH PET OWNERS.
>> BY GIVING THEM SERVICE
THROUGH ZOOM OR ANOTHER PLATFORM
ONLINE WILL DECREASE PEOPLE
COMING INTO PRIVATE PRACTICES
UNTIL THEY ABSOLUTELY HAVE TO.
>> Reporter: FROM THE SAN DIEGO
HUMANE SOCIETY, DANA WILLIAMS,