Lack of veterinarians in Yuma County

YUMA, Ariz. (KYMA) - One of the biggest challenges facing animals in Yuma County is a shortage of veterinarians.

We spoke to a veterinarian who shares the challenges they face with limited help in Yuma County.

Dr. Danyelle Munoz, Humane Society Medical Director, says, "If I have, you know, trained techs, then I can kind of delegate and yes, I'm stressed thin, but maybe I can stretch a little bit further, and so, I always joke that I need five of me, but I need 15 of them, so that’s definitely the hardest."

Dr. Munoz grew up in Yuma County and says this has been an issue for a long time.

"I was born and raised here, I can tell you there was not a moment in time that the clinics in town were not hiring, and so its still the case, I mean I took this interim position in September of 2020, and I am still here because we haven't found a full time vet to take it over 100%," says Munoz.

The Humane Society shares in some parts of Arizona pet owners have to drive hours just to see a veterinarian.

Annette Lagunas, Humane Society Executive Director, "The veterinarian shortage is across the united states, it's everywhere, you know theres some parts of Arizona, that those owners have to drive three four hours to get to a veterinarian."

Many pet owners will travel to Phoenix, California, and sometimes even Mexico for accessible pet care.

Lagunas adds many vet students rack up thousands of dollars in debt making it hard to get veterinarians in Yuma County.

"Those schools very competitive, and it really hurts the rural community. We don't even have an emergency clinic here in Yuma County, and that's really unfortunate," says Lagunas.

Veterinarians ask to the community to be nice and patient as they are doing the best they can to care for all animals in Yuma County.