Veterinary shortage in Imperial Valley forces pet owners to travel for care

IMPERIAL COUNTY, Calif. (KYMA) - For many pet owners in Imperial Valley, a trip to the vet is no longer a short drive across town. It can mean driving across county lines or even across the border

According to the National Institute of Food and Agriculture, Imperial County is considered a critical veterinary shortage area for domesticated pets and livestock.

With only one veterenarian in a county of almost 200,000 people, pet owners say appointments are booked weeks out, there is no emergency care office, and when their animals get sick they have to travel to Mexicali, Yuma, Palm Springs, or San Diego.

"I will take her to Mexicali if it's an emergency, since there's a lot of variety, places you can take her. Much cheaper places prices than here in the Valley. And there's no veterinary care here at all," Gabby Garcia told KYMA in an interview. She said her dog Roxy is not just part of her family, but also serves as a therapy dog for her son.

California has attempted to address the shortage with a loan-repayment program that helps pay off veterinary school debt. The program is administered through the California Department of Food and Agriculture. The effort mirrors a federal program through the U.S. Department of Agriculture, which also identifies veterinary shortages and offers incentives nationwide.

"There was in California, on the books, for veterinarians who graduate vet school, if they'll come to underdeveloped areas or financially not well areas and work for a year or so, their tuition would be paid off," Tami Armijo, a dog trainer and pet owner in El Centro told KYMA.

Until more providers arrive, families say they're left making the impossible decision on whether to wait or travel for hours, and hope their animals hang on long enough to get help.