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International Day of Veterinary Medicine: Vets and Good Business

Most people think of veterinary practices as places you go when something is wrong with your pet.

But on the International Day of Veterinary Medicine — observed every year on December 9th — we’re reminded that vets are some of the quietest, strongest examples of what good business looks like. Not because they talk about values, but because they live them every day.

Behind every consultation room door is a lesson in trust, integrity, service and community.


When Veterinary Care Becomes Community Care

In the UK, organisations like StreetVet deliver free veterinary treatment to the pets of people experiencing homelessness — restoring dignity, stability and companionship where it’s needed most.

Corporate groups such as IVC Evidensia and its Pet Health Club have mobilised major donation campaigns to support StreetVet’s outreach. It’s a powerful example of what happens when commercial scale meets purpose-led intention.

Elsewhere, groups like VetPartners channel their internal culture outward through initiatives such as the Month of Movement, where staff wellbeing activities translate directly into charitable contributions across Europe.

These aren’t marketing tactics. They are business values expressed through action.


Australia: Education, Wellbeing and a Different Kind of Growth

In Australia, The Equine Practice Company began as a way for one vet to share specialist equine dentistry skills with another.

It has since grown into a global educational platform:

  • offering advanced clinical training,

  • equipping vets with workplace and communication skills, and

  • providing wellbeing support in a profession facing intense emotional demands.

This is a small, specialist business becoming a global force for better standards and better care — all without losing its values.


Canada: When Business Becomes Infrastructure

In Canada, access to veterinary care is increasingly understood as critical infrastructure, especially in rural and remote regions.

The Canadian Veterinary Medical Association continues to highlight care gaps and advocate for sustainable solutions that ensure every community — not just urban centres — can access essential veterinary services.

In British Columbia, the Regional Recruitment & Retention of Veterinary Services (VET) Program is helping practices create new models to attract and keep vets serving food-producing animals, strengthening food security and animal welfare across entire regions.

This is good business as:

  • community resilience,

  • agricultural stability,

  • and responsible service design.

United States: Transparency, Innovation and the Future

In the US, innovation is accelerating through digital-first, hybrid care models like Chewy Vet Care — offering clear pricing, simple scheduling and customer-first accessibility.

At the same time, stakeholders and regulators are raising important questions about consolidation, fairness and transparency. It’s a pivotal period for the profession, where leadership decisions will shape trust for years to come.

Purpose-led veterinary businesses stand out by:

  • being honest about pricing,

  • prioritising relationships over transactions,

  • and ensuring welfare — animal and human — remains at the centre.

Supporting the People Who Support Animals

Good business doesn’t only care about customers. It cares about the workforce behind the work.

In the UK, Vetlife provides mental health, emotional support and financial assistance to thousands of vets and veterinary nurses every year. It’s a reminder of the emotional weight carried by those who treat the animals we love.

Globally, the Worldwide Veterinary Service delivers treatment, vaccinations and training across multiple countries — often reaching animals and communities who would otherwise be left behind.

This is the bigger ecosystem of responsible business:

  • supporting staff,

  • supporting communities,

  • supporting welfare beyond borders.


A Sector Under Pressure — And Full of Possibility

Across markets, veterinary care is undergoing deep transformation.

Debates around pricing, ownership transparency and corporatisation continue to grow. In response, regulators in the UK and elsewhere are exploring reforms that protect consumers and maintain trust.

But within this challenge lies immense opportunity.

Independent, values-led veterinary businesses can differentiate themselves more than ever by:

  • communicating clearly,

  • investing in wellbeing,

  • strengthening community ties,

  • collaborating with charities,

  • and choosing openness over opacity.

On December 9th, the International Day of Veterinary Medicine isn’t just a date — it’s a reminder that how a business operates matters as much as what it provides.


What Vets Quietly Teach Every Other Business

When you strip it back, veterinary practices model principles every sector can learn from:

  • Trust matters most when stakes are high

  • Care is operational, not ornamental

  • Consistency builds loyalty

  • Transparency builds confidence

  • Wellbeing strengthens performance

  • Community impact outlasts marketing

You don’t have to treat animals to run a business like this. You just have to decide that trust, fairness and responsibility are not slogans — but standards.


Want to Build This Kind of Trust Into Your Own Business?

The Good Business Toolkit offers simple, practical steps any organisation can apply to embed values, strengthen culture and build trust in ways that last.

👉 Explore the Good Business Toolkit:https://www.storiesofbusiness.com/goodbusiness

Share Your Story

If you run — or know — a veterinary practice or purpose-led business making a positive difference to animals, people or communities, we’d love to hear from you.

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