Clearly, our world has changed, drastically, in the last twenty years.  Population in Northeast U.S. up 13.2% (from 281,421,906 to 331, 449, 281) from 2000 to 2020, and along with more people has come a big change in lifestyles.  NOTE This doesn't even take into account mass migrations during Covid from cities to small towns and resort/lake communities.

A big change as well is economic differences.  Used to be every town had their one vet who treated mostly large farm animals with pets being a small percentage of their practice.  Not so many people had pets, certainly not those of lower economic means. Now, in 2023, people have moved to these small areas for safety and to create a "Life" for their families and pets are a large part of that imagined "Good Life."  THE END RESULT:  The older vet has retired.  More people, of all economic levels, have pets.  We have to proverbial haves and have nots. The wealthier folks are willing to spend big bucks to treat their Golden Retriever's cancer.  There are demonstrated needs for  (1) high level care for those who can afford it; (2) ongoing care for the middle class, similar to the past twenty years; and (3) low cost care, spay and neutering for lower income pet lovers.

TO MY POINT:  Our local most excellent no kill shelter is struggling constantly WITH NO ON-SITE VET TO PERFORM SPAY/NEUTER.  SHELTERS HAVE PROLIFERATED BUT VETS HAVE NOT.  WHAT'S WRONG WITH ALLOWING RETIRED VETS TO PROVIDE SERVICES IN SHELTERS?  MAKE A WAY FOR THEM TO RE-UP!  THIS PROPOSAL BY DR. BLACKBURN WOULD DO THAT.  

P.S.  IN THE 1990s I LIVED ON OCRACOKE ISLAND NC WHERE THERE WAS A LARGE FERAL CAT POPULATION, MUCH BELOVED BY LOCALS BUT IN NEED OF MANAGEMENT.  NO VET WOULD VOLUNTEER FOR SPAY/NEUTER IN FACE OF CENSOR BY THE VETERINARY COMMUNITY.  TIME TO CHANGE.  PLEASE.  HELP US TAKE CARE  OF OUR ANIMALS.