Veterinary chains Mission, Southern plan merger
https://news.vin.com/default.aspx?pid=210&catId=612&Id=12221520THE MADNESS CONTINUES...
Mission Veterinary Partners and Southern Veterinary Partners are planning a merger that would create one of the largest owners of veterinary practices in the United States.
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Word had already spread about the prospective merger, sparking a petition calling on the U.S. government to block any such deal on the grounds it would be anti-competitive. The petition, started on June 28, has gathered 193 signatures as of today. It was created by an unnamed licensed veterinary technician and practice manager.
Southern Veterinary Partners, based in Birmingham, Alabama, has more than 400 practices, while Mission Veterinary Partners, based in Southfield, Michigan, has more than 330, according to their respective websites. The private equity firm Shore Capital Partners is a major investor in both.
A combined company with more than 730 practices would rank high in size among corporate consolidators operating in the U.S. The largest is Mars Inc., with more than 2,000 practices under the brands Banfield, VCA and BluePearl. Other large players include National Veterinary Associates, Vetcor and Thrive, which own more than 1,400, 880 and 380 practices, respectively, according to their websites.
= new reply since forum marked as read
"advanced" training (a master's degree over even an unrelated non-science bachelor's degree--compared to 8-12 years for veterinarians with specific training in surgery, advanced diagnostics, pharmacology, and the entire gamut of 21st-century advances available to both human and veterinary medicine). These will be who staff these mega clinics with the minimal one veterinarian laughably but "technically supervising" offsite over multiple clinics. And while licensed veterinarians are liable and carry medical liability insurance, if you think your maltreatment of precious animals can be subject to the same liability, I've got news for you. It will be these megacorporations you would have to sue, not these relatively poorly paid and uninsured, undertrained paraprofessionals. This is on the Colorado ballot as I speak and pet owners are being bamboozled into thinking it will lower costs and expand access with the same level of care they have gotten from their licensed veterinarian and referral clinics with specialists, including CSU veterinary school. And it will backfire against steps (already underway) to try to increase fully trained veterinarians to ease shortages in this and other states. The public is being misled to think that this will be substantially different than certified veterinary technicians--already able to do more basic procedures, but under the direct supervision of veterinarians onsite or that they will somehow be the veterinary equivalent of PAs (physician assistants).
Pet owners better get involved. As with most businesses taken over by these corporate conglomerates, it is the public that suffers. Does anyone think the human equivalent-- corporate-owned "doc in a box" clinics-- that basically serve as a wasted time delay before sending their human patients to the ER for anything more serious than a cold (given most can't even do x-rays, basic lab procedures, or the most basic of orthopedic care)-- have been useful? That is outside the greedy corporate raiding-investor class--who don't give a damn... 
Signed the petition.
for bringing this to everyone's attention. I saw your posts yesterday, then this showed up when I did my morning clicks to help feed shelter kitties, etc.