Feed and energy are already expensive, and now pet owners are also confronted with a new schedule of fees for doctor visits. Bad consequences are feared, including for animal shelters and farmers.
Frankfurt/Main (dpa/lhe) – More than 50 euros for the initial treatment of an injured dog’s paw: A new fee schedule for veterinarians makes many treatments significantly more expensive. The cost of the paw treatment would have more than doubled, said the State Animal Welfare Association on Wednesday. All in all, a real cost explosion is triggered. It is possible that many sick dogs, cats, birds or rodents will no longer be brought to the practice in the future, but will be “doctored” with them due to lack of money, or they will even be abandoned or put to sleep. The situation of animal shelters is also deteriorating further, the association said.
The new fee schedule came into effect on Tuesday (November 22nd). Of course, veterinarians have a right to reasonable remuneration, said the State Animal Protection Association. But since there are already signs of a declining order situation in the practices, the question is whether the bill of the legislator, who wants to maintain a nationwide network of practices, clinics and emergency services with the new fees in the long term, will work.
The situation of animal shelters is also a cause for great concern. The higher costs could represent an additional nail in the coffin for individual institutions that are already struggling with the consequences of the higher minimum wage, rising prices and declining willingness to donate, the association said. In addition, there is great uncertainty as to what care contracts with veterinarians will have to look like in the future.
A run on animal shelters is to be feared. “If admission is rejected there, some owners will certainly abandon their animals. Then they end up in the animal shelter as alleged found animals,” says the association.
The animal shelter “Wau-Mau-Insel” in Kassel also expects significantly higher expenses. The higher energy prices alone are forcing people to save, said manager Karsten Plücker. The heating was turned down and the dogs had to put up with the flaps closed at night to save energy. Even if someone wants to donate blankets, for example, you have to consider whether you can even pick them up given the high fuel costs.
Added to this are the higher medical costs. Since the announcement, requests for support from owners of sick animals have increased. “We fear that people will no longer go to the vet,” said Plücker.
It is now particularly important that donations continue to be made. A majority of the donations come around Christmas, when people can anticipate having something left over at the end of the year. This year, however, he is preparing for fewer donations, said Plücker.
Sharp criticism of the higher doctor’s fees also comes from the Hessian farmers’ association: The renewed significant increase is not acceptable and will mean that some farmers can hardly afford veterinary care. Due to the current cost explosions in agriculture, livestock farmers in particular have come under additional pressure. The association spoke of increases of up to 60 percent. This shows how important stock management contracts are, in which veterinarians calculate fee rates that deviate from the fee schedule.
