Animal shelters across the United States have struggled with sustained intake pressure since 2021, as post-pandemic pet ownership, housing instability, and limited access to veterinary care converge. In Houston, where…
Year: 2026
Pets Are Becoming a Luxury Good, and Public Policy Must Treat Veterinary Care as Essential Infrastructure
In 2024, U.S. consumer prices for veterinary services rose 7.6 percent, following a 9.4 percent increase in 2023, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics Consumer Price Index (https://www.bls.gov/cpi/).…
State Audit Finds Alleged Diversion of Public Rabies Vaccine Funds Within Regional Animal Health Program
Central Finding and Scope An internal audit conducted by Indonesia’s Supreme Audit Agency (Badan Pemeriksa Keuangan, BPK) and published in its 2023 Annual Audit Summary indicates irregularities in the procurement…
When the Exam Room Bill Arrives: A Family, a Dog, and the New Math of Loving a Pet
The Waiting Room The leash coils around Daniel Hartono’s wrist as his Labrador shifts on the tile floor of a veterinary clinic in South Jakarta. The dog’s name is Milo.…
Rising Veterinary Costs and Insurance Expansion Are Reshaping the Economics of Pet Ownership
Central Issue: Structural Cost Escalation in Companion Animal Care The rapid escalation of veterinary costs in the United States since 2020—combined with accelerating pet insurance adoption and sustained household demand—has…
Veterinary Price Surge Signals Structural Shift in the $147 Billion Pet Economy
Hard News Peg U.S. consumer prices for veterinary services rose 9.4 percent in 2023 and 7.6 percent in 2024, outpacing overall inflation, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics…