To The Editor:
While it has always been clear that Laurence Cohen’s writings take a tongue-in-cheek approach to some fairly somber subjects (“State To Be Overrun With Animals, Addicts & Analysts,” Dec. 8), we believe his humor regarding the need for more veterinarians and veterinary technicians in Connecticut over the next 10 years should instead be taken quite seriously.
More than 40 percent of our state’s veterinarians are planning for retirement over the next decade, and the owners of animal hospitals have been reporting difficulties in hiring for years. At times, the delay in hiring a young colleague exceeds two years. Ultimately, it is the animals who suffer as limited service supply drives up costs and fewer animals are served.
The issue is one of attracting young people to an expensive state that many educated young people leave as they are able. We are at a further disadvantage as we have no veterinary college of our own.
The necessary political will to create a veterinary college at the University of Connecticut has not been present to date. A more limited program of five contract seats for Connecticut students at Iowa State University College of Veterinary Medicine was funded for just one year and then dropped by our Legislature.
We estimate the need for 40 new veterinarians a year, rather than five.
So if Connecticut is to remain a quality locale in which to reside, we should pay attention to the little things that contribute to quality of life here. When you need veterinary care, there is no substitute.
The time to look again at adding a veterinary college at UConn is now.
Arnold L. Goldman,
Connecticut Veterinary Medical Association
