For more than three decades, Kirsten Sauter has been there for Vineyard pet owners. But last week, Dr. Sauter told her clients that she plans to retire and close her practice in April.
For more than three decades, Kirsten Sauter has been there for Vineyard pet owners. Since she opened her veterinary practice in Vineyard Haven in 1994, she’s helped countless cats, dogs, birds and even horses.
But last week, Dr. Sauter told her clients that she plans to retire and close her practice in April. The announcement elicited congratulations on some well-earned rest, but also worry as her departure means it will be even harder Islanders to find a vet on the Vineyard. It will also cut down on the number of vets in the Island-wide emergency on-call system, likely resulting in coverage gaps.
A dwindling number of veterinarians, plus an influx of residents and pets during the pandemic, has forced many pet owners to go off-Island for both appointments and emergencies as most professionals, including Dr. Sauter, have stopped taking new clients.
In messages to her existing customers, Dr. Sauter suggested people look to Falmouth for care.
“There’s been a lot more pet ownership since COVID and it seems like a lot of people moved here,” Dr. Sauter said.
The Island’s other veterinarians, in an unusual joint statement, wished Dr. Sauter a happy retirement and asked the public to make allowances for the Island’s dedicated pet doctors, who work long hours and log extra on-call shifts, sometimes being on duty as much as 24 hours at a time.
“Please do not blame the local doctors or their staff,” veterinarians Dr. Michelle Jasny, Dr. Steven Atwood, Dr. Charles Rogers, Dr. David Tuminaro, Dr. Constance Breese and Dr. Sauter wrote. “Most of the veterinarians here have put in twenty, thirty, forty years plus of service including round-the-clock on call shifts, covering every night, every weekend, every holiday.”
A nationwide veterinarian shortage, the Island’s sky high housing costs and the need to work these long on-call shifts have all made it hard to attract new veterinarians to the Vineyard. Dr. Sauter tried to sell her practice for eight years but was unable to find a buyer.
Her absence will also whittle down the number of vets remaining on the Island who care for larger animals. Dr. Sauter is currently one of three Vineyard veterinarians who see horses, she said. It’s likely that there will no longer be any emergency coverage for large animals after My Pet’s Vet closes in April, the veterinarians said. A small group of the remaining veterinarians are hoping to continue urgent care for small animals as close to 24/7 as they can.
My Pet's Vet, one of the Island's handful of vet practices, is set to close in April.
My Pet's Vet, one of the Island's handful of vet practices, is set to close in April.
Vista Vets, a Falmouth veterinary clinic that opened in 2021, still has room for patients and its proximity to the Island has the Vineyard vets suggesting pet owners cross Vineyard Sound for care.
“A lot of vets on the Vineyard were already maxed out,” said Cory Griffin, the practice manager at Vista Vets. “Pretty much from the get-go we were taking a decent amount of Vineyard clients.”
Right now, she estimated that about a quarter of the clinic’s patients lived on the Island. The number is so large that the company is starting a new service where medications can be sent to established customers on the Island via the Patriot boat.
But even Vista, one of the few vets taking new patients, doesn’t handle 24/7 emergencies, meaning some pets may have to go even further afield, raising the cost of owning a pet even higher for Islanders.
If pet owners have an emergency, the Island’s vets urge them to call their regular veterinarian. If they are unavailable, owners should try on-call clinics, telemedicine or mainland emergency hospitals in Bourne and South Weymouth.
In 2021, the Island vets started using a telemedicine service called VetTriage in an attempt to lighten the load. About two-thirds of after hours or weekends calls have been able to be handled through the virtual system, but it doesn’t change the fact that there are too many people and pets for the number of local veterinarians.
That’s something that likely isn’t going to balance out any time soon.
“We care deeply about the Island animals and their owners but there is only so much each of us can do,” the Island vets said in their statement. “More of us will likely be retiring in the not-too-distant future. We hope new veterinarians will come here eventually, especially those who are willing to provide emergency care, but we have not succeeded in making that happen despite our best efforts.”
Comments
I met Kirsten soon after she
Nelson Sigelman Vineyard HavenI met Kirsten soon after she opened her Island practice. She arrived at our Chilmark home to check out Tashmoo, a rambunctious black lab puppy we’d purchased from landscaper Steve Yaffe. Tashmoo loved going to Kirsten’s office, where he knew a treat was waiting, but his best days were spent in a great pond duck blind. Occasionally, I'd give him a reason to retrieve a duck. In his sixteenth year, I helped Tashmoo into the back of my Isuzu Trooper, made him comfortable on a quilt blanket, and took him for his last vet visit. It was Saturday walk-in hours, and Kirsten’s office was filled with people and pets. No need to bring Tashmoo in, she said. Kirsten and her assistant walked out to my vehicle. There were no rushed movements, only the kindness of a caring veterinarian who understood my emotional distress, for which I remain grateful. Tashmoo closed his eyes, lying on the blanket I buried him in near the great pond he loved.
It is unlikely there will be
Dr. Mzack York PAIt is unlikely there will be a gap in veterinary coverage at any time. It's highly likely the state board requires veterinarians to either provide emergency care to to have emergency care available. Veterinarians are usuallyy obligated to cover every minute of every day unless other care is available.
I’m not sure you know what
Shelley EdgartownI’m not sure you know what you’re talking about. I had an animal emergency to which no one on the island responded. I had to wait until the next day to take her off island. Also, it is widely known that a couple of years ago there was one equine emergency to which no one responded and the poor creature died slowly and painfully over the course of a couple of hours. And as soon as the large animal vets are gone, which is happening sooner than later, there will, literally, be no one who can respond to large animal emergencies.
I’m not sure what the state
Ed EdgartownI’m not sure what the state board may or may not require, but what you’re describing doesn’t currently exist on the island and likely won’t exist as the situation gets worse.
Nope, you do not have to
Dr. GoodmanNope, you do not have to provide your own emergency care. You just have to provide the names of other clinics. These could be miles and miles away. Veterinarians are allowed to have work life balance and are not legally required to work 24/7 or provide their own emergency services.
At risk of waxing nostalgic -
Steve Yaffe Moshup / AquinnahAt risk of waxing nostalgic - My chocolate lab Molly Brown was Tashmoo’s mother. Dr. Atwood was her vet and I would like to thank him again for his fine care and compassion throughout her life. Molly Brown and I would visit nurseries throughout New England and I had her picture in over 15 dump trucks for decades. It has become a sad situation for the island to be losing some of our great veterinarians.
Steve Yaffe
Moshup/Aquinnah
It was 1989, cold, dark.
robert hermanIt was 1989, cold, dark. Miska needed blood, spleen issue. Norton donated, I didn’t object. She saved that dogs life. Too many lost dogs since. Only old people should own dogs. She is a great vet and friend.
I agree Robert. Only old
old personI agree Robert. Only old people should own dogs.
Thank you Dr. Sauter. You
Barbara Welsh Oak BluffsThank you Dr. Sauter. You cared for six of my seven rescues, coordinating with vets in New York, over the span of decades. I always felt sure that Micki. Pete, Larry, Jack, Rose and Ivy were getting the best care, and I got the best care whenever I had to say goodbye. Thank you.
WHY HASN'T THE ISLAND'S
PATRICIA FENN VISITORWHY HASN'T THE ISLAND'S CHAMBER OF COMMERCE TAKEN ON THIS TASK WITH INCENTIVES FOR ADDITIONAL VETERINARIANS?
This is a great idea but will
Dr. Mack York, PAThis is a great idea but will not help. Right now there is a huge veterinarian shortage and finding an associate veterinarian to hire is almost impossible. For one, there just aren't enough vets and number two the corporations are offering these vets $100,000 sign on bonuses and six figure incomes. This is not possible for the majority of vet-owned clinics. Incentives only work if there are vets to offer them to. Those vets are few and far between. The corporations can offer this because their average transaction fee is >$500 whereas the average transaction fee at my hospital is $140 ish. Finding a vet is likely going to be a real problem.
For nearly 30 years Dr. Jasny
Lynn Van Auken Cambridge, MAFor nearly 30 years Dr. Jasny cared for our beloved pets. From cats to hamsters to our late great lab mix, Buddy, the care she and her staff provided was always professional, compassionate and never rushed. No matter if the patient weighed about an ounce or 90 pounds, Dr. Jasny was as responsive to her patients as the people who loved them. Off-island pet care will preclude ownership for some families and island life without pets is unthinkable for others. Timing is everything. We are grateful.
I know that they won't want
David Small West TisburyI know that they won't want to hear this, but the Steamship Authority should revisit their Emergency Transportation Policy and explicitly include pets and veterinary services as part of the policy. The Steamship is a lifeline for not only the human residents of the island, but also for our pets and large animals. This is especially important as there is no ambulance service for animals - they are generally transported in the customer's vehicles even in cases of emergency. If emergency veterinary care becomes unavailable on the island there will be a large increase in the number of people who need to take the ferry with their animals on an emergency basis and we should prepare for that in advance. If, god forbid, I need to get my dog to an emergency veterinary clinic on the mainland during the busy summer season I want assurance that the Steamship Authority will accommodate us.
Could not agree more. One of
Samantha Hartley West TisburyCould not agree more. One of the lessons of Hurricane Katrina was the need to value pets as family members and rescue them as well. Otherwise, the ferry "lifeline" would be no lifeline for our family.
The Island treats dogs like
Albert NauThe Island treats dogs like people and people like dogs.
I thought every kid growing
kidsI thought every kid growing up wants to be a vet, how is there a vet shortage??
There is shortage in the work
Jim EdgartownThere is shortage in the work force. I really don’t understand it… I can’t find anyone to work anymore. I use to get college, HS kids, nobody wants to work after the pandemic…
How do people do it???
I would like to know…
Nobody wants to *be exploited
JT MVNobody wants to *be exploited* anymore. Supply and demand works both ways, much to the chagrin of the 'nobody wants to work' crowd.
The national unemployment
Elisha Wiesner ChilmarkThe national unemployment rate is currently 3.4%. This is lower than it's been in over 20 years. It's not that people don't want to work, they just don't want to work for you.
The largest driver of the
Carol formerly ChilmarkThe largest driver of the workforce shortage is the same economic driver as has been true since the 50s & 60s - the Baby Boomers, that giant demographic generational bulge. They are all aging out of the workforce now, & there aren't enough young ones yet to replace them.
There are only 32 vet Schools
Betsy Burmeister West TisburyThere are only 32 vet Schools in the U.S., but there are 199 Law Schools. There are more Lawyers than there are jobs for them. We are in desperate need of Vets. Makes no sense. According to the Humane Society there are 70 million stray dogs and cats in this country. 5-7 million end up in shelters. We kill 1 million dogs/cats in shelters every year, simply because no one wants them. We need Vets from all over the country, especially the South, to just concentrate on spaying, neutering and vaccinating. Stray dogs are an especially huge problem .The Netherlands made sure that all the stray dogs were spayed and neutered. Now, they have no strays. Granted, they are a very small country, but our Government needs to help young people with Vet school and give them jobs tackling the problem of strays. These animals suffer greatly. It is time to help these animals.
Exactly! And a federal law
Shelley EdgartownExactly! And a federal law needs to be past making ownership of unspayed/unneutered animals illegal the way they did in Norway. And then government money used to euthanize homeless animals could be used to settings up free spay/neuter clinic. A win the situation for cash strapped pet owners and a win situation for veterinarians, especially those struggling in rural areas.
Vet school is harder to get
WashashoreVet school is harder to get into than medical school and just as expensive
Until they get old enough to
Mel Buzzards BayUntil they get old enough to see what becoming a vet entails! The cost of vet school has skyrocketed, as have the costs of supporting a practice. There is a shortage of veterinarians nationwide, with fewer graduates every year. The debt to income ratio is untenable for the majority of potential veterinarians. The majority of pet/farm animal owners pay out of pocket, rather than through insurance, and many cannot afford the cost of major ( and minor) procedures if the practices were to charge what it would cost to run a profitable business. Add all those factors to the cost of living on-Island, and it isn’t a very attractive proposition. It is sad for all involved.
Many kids DO want to be a vet
Katndog TnMany kids DO want to be a vet, but there’s several layers to get through. Highschool, college, and you better do really well in college to get into vet school. I’m a vet and I have college students that have worked for me but they can’t get into vet school because they can’t pass the science courses. Add that to how competitive it is and it’s just not doable for many people. Plus during the pandemic everybody got a new pet. It’s estimated that since COVID, there are 50% more pets. But the same amount of vets. No one can handle that much extra work when we are already full with the current workload. There are clinics here that are booked up for weeks ahead of time. No one can work that much and have any type of work/life balance. It is a bummer but not likely to change.
The veterinary profession is
Dr. Holly Hayna IllinoisThe veterinary profession is at a turning point. Long gone will be the small town solo practice “Dr. Herriotts” as giant corporations continue to buy out practices. Young vets can’t compete with the corporations that can offer far more money to buy out practices. Covid caused a huge increase in pets & the number of clients seeking care for the pets. Veterinarians can’t compete with McDonald’s & other businesses who can offer more pay for easier work which means we are short staffed & less staff means less people to help take care of the clients & pets = less pets we can physically take care of. Areas that really will suffer are mixed animal rural/remote areas or vacation destinations/resort areas where veterinarians don’t make enough money to even be able to afford to live where they practice, like the Vineyard. On top of that add in crippling student loan debt with salaries that don’t come close to what we need to actually pay the monthly loan payments, a mortgage or rent & all the other expenses necessary to live, ruthless online bashing, and the need to be available 24/7 in some areas without adequate compensation to make it even close to worthwhile. With the psychological & financial toll, those in our profession are dropping like flies & the reason the suicide rate is so high. In this day & age when angry unhinged people can go on online witch hunts & achieve getting Google to maliciously change the name of a veterinary practice on their website why on earth would anyone choose to enter this soul-sucking profession that we once loved.
Yours truly,
A Seasoned Veterinarian
So another vet wants to move
Joseph Buti Boston.So another vet wants to move to the Island. Where would they live? Or say someone from off island got a job as a schoolteacher here, where would they live? Or let’s say a town wishes to hire a new planner or GIS mapper to help prioritise and protect dwindling Island resources. Where would they live?
We love u Kirsten Sorry
Tom Engley West TisburyWe love u Kirsten Sorry Dave.
Kirsten is an incredible
Ashley SKirsten is an incredible person and veterinarian. I could never thank her enough for helping me care for my Kira and saving her life. Well deserved retirement.
Logo was my very first dog
Pam Coblyn Oak BluffsLogo was my very first dog and when he got very old and started to fail I called Dr. Sauter, hoping for a miracle. She checked him over and gently explained that his sunset was inevitable but we still had a bit of time together…maybe even a year. Dr. K kindly counseled me about the cycle of life and the privilege it is to love and care for a beloved dog in his final era. I am forever grateful for her wisdom and gentleness. She gave me the strength to make our last year together incredibly beautiful.
As with human healthcare,
Mike kelfer ChilmarkAs with human healthcare, there must be incentives for practitioners to relocate to “remote”/ underserved locations. There is precedent for significant tuition-reduction tied to commitment to practice in these regions. This would obviously require cooperation from Vet schools, which, at least in the past, had markedly limited enrollment policies. Perhaps a commitment on-island for an affordable housing unit…this will require a multi-pronged strategy…
October 5 years ago our
Breck Montague West Tisbury (summer and fall)October 5 years ago our beloved 2 year old chocolate Lab, Birdie was hit by a hit and run. Two ladies on horseback witnessed the event and helped us track the only vet open, Kirsten Sauter @ My Pet's Vet. The poor dog died of internal injuries in my arms as we raced down Lamberts Cove. Dr. Sauter and her team have PhD's in grief management. I still crack up thinking about the incident. They were so kind and thoughtful.
I think her retirement is well deserved, but I selfishly wish she would be there for ever.
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