The Animal Health Organization (TAHO) is facing a critical staffing and financial challenge that could impact access to veterinary care in its community. According to TAHO, the ongoing shortage of veterinarians has significantly affected both its staffing capacity and revenue, putting the organization in a precarious financial position.

For many people, pets are family and their needs can influence decisions about housing, finances and even health care. A recent Perspective published in the New England Journal of Medicine, “Human–Animal Bonds as Social Determinants of Health Care Access,” explores how responsibilities to pets can affect whether and how people seek medical care.