The Humane Society of Sarasota County (HSSC) has temporarily paused appointments at its public Animal Clinic due to staffing shortages. HSSC anticipates reopening the Animal Clinic in mid to late August.
The Animal Clinic offers vaccinations, preventative medicine and wellness service to the public at an affordable rate.
Current Animal Clinic clients will still be able to refill prescriptions, and the Animal Clinic is contacting all clients impacted by cancelations. The Animal Clinic is reachable by email at
The veterinary staffing shortage is not unique to Sarasota. It is a nationwide issue. According to a recent study co-authored by Susanne Kogut of Petco Love and Drs. Meredith Montgomery and Julie Levy of the University of Florida—73% of animal sheltering organizations reported being short-staffed for veterinarians, and 72% of access to care clinics reported shortages in veterinarians and veterinary support staff. The study states that the deficiency is leading to prolonged waiting times to receive care with most of the clinics experiencing delays of at least two months.
"We remain committed to providing quality, accessible pet care for our community," said Anna Gonce, HSSC Executive Director. "We believe all pets deserve medical care that will prevent future health issues and keep them safe and in their homes."
HSSC's adoption center hours are not affected by the staffing shortage and veterinary care of HSSC's shelter pets is not impacted. HSSC has two full-time veterinarians focused on the health of the cats and dogs waiting for adoption and as resources to area rescue groups.