Happy Freedom Day!

In celebration of Black resilience and joy, as well as recognition of our collective responsibility to address systemic barriers to inclusion in our profession, the AEC team invites our community to learn more about the history of Juneteenth and what we can do to help advance racial equity and remove barriers to inclusivity in the work we love.

What is Juneteenth?

Juneteenth is the oldest national celebration which commemorates the end of slavery in the United States. Juneteenth is also known by names including: Jubilee, Black Independence Day, Freedom Day, Emancipation Day, and its official title as the 11th U.S. Federal Holiday, Juneteenth National Independence Day. Though it is our most recent federal holiday, officially recognized in 2021, Juneteenth celebrations are nothing new. Americans have been celebrating the end of slavery since the 1860s and in many parts of the United States, Juneteenth has been legally recognized on a state level for decades.

The stain of chattel slavery will exist forever on the history of the United States and it is important to understand that slavery and slavery-adjacent conditions continued beyond Galveston and the symbol of June 19th, 1865. The far-reaching impact on the lives of generations of Black Americans still remains undeniable in June 2026, over 160 years later. Juneteenth is a celebration of African-American culture, resilience, and joy, as well as a time to reflect on both the history and the future of our nation.

Impact on the veterinary medicine

Veterinary medicine is one of the most occupationally segregated professions in the United States of America on the basis of race. Though gender representation in the profession has radically shifted over the last 50 years and it boasts a higher than average representation of LGBTQ+ individuals, significant racial inequity persists. Data from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics suggests between 88% and 92% of veterinarians are white, a number significantly higher than the average representation of white Americans in the workforce. Only 1-2% of American veterinarians are Black. 

While representation is only one consideration of many when looking at parity and equity, the importance of representation in professional leadership is undeniable: it is hard to imagine possibilities for ourselves that we cannot see in the world, especially when we are young. The veterinary medical field struggles with diverse representation at all levels of the profession, including paraveterinary workers. Lack of diversity, equity, inclusion, and belonging hinders the advancement of veterinary science and creates barriers to care access for many pet owners.

How to help advance racial equity in veterinary medicine

Learn the truth, tell the truth

Our nation’s history is important to the lives of all Americans, but the occupational impact of systemic racism is of particular relevance to those of us who work in the veterinary medical field. Veterinary professionals recognize the importance of identifying an injury or illness in the process of seeking to ameliorate it. It is vital that we readily name and acknowledge the reality of racial inequity in veterinary medicine as we work to change it. We cannot hope to heal what we cannot see or speak about.

Support, Uplift, Advocate

Animal Emergency Care is a 24-hour emergency hospital and our facility is open on all federal holidays. AEC donates a percentage of our total Juneteenth labor expenses (equivalent to a holiday differential) to an organization advancing equity for Black veterinary professionals in our industry, such as the National Association for Black Veterinarians (NABV). AEC is grateful for the opportunity to materially contribute to the NABV in its mission to celebrate the achievements of Black veterinarians, create a pathway for Black students entering veterinary medicine, and foster advocacy, community, and support at every level of the profession.

Last year, our team connected with Dr. Annie J. Daniel, PhD, founder of the NABV, as well as Founder and CEO of iHELP- the Institute for Healthcare Education Leadership and Professionals. Dr. Daniel graciously collaborated with us to determine how to best support the organization’s important work beyond our planned holiday donation. This year, Animal Emergency Care is proud to be a sponsor of the 2026 NABV Conference and Scholarship Gala, an educational conference by and for Black veterinary professionals and students.

The theme of this year’s conference is “Inspiring the Next Generation of Black Veterinarians: Empowering Voices for Diversity in Veterinary Medicine.”

Resources

Juneteenth Fact Sheet by the Congressional Research Service

Juneteenth Resources – City of Bellingham

Anti-Racism Resources by Western Libraries (WWU)

The 2022-2023 iHELP and NABV Impact Report

VetREDI – a RACE-approved certification on Racial Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion in veterinary medicine

Being Black in a white profession – AVMA

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Staffing shortages are taking a toll on the veterinary industry

Staffing shortages have been a problem for the veterinary medicine industry for many years, and the pandemic has exacerbated the issue as veterinary professionals work long difficult hours to treat as many pets as possible. Not only are veterinary staffs strained by the absences caused when team contract or are exposed to COVID, but they also are at high risk for compassion fatigue and burnout.

• Veterinarians — Most veterinarians will say they never considered any other occupation, and they determinedly worked through undergraduate studies and veterinary school to achieve their goal. For many, that extensive schooling has led to debt and an ever-present cause of stress. Adding to the stress is the desire to cure every patient they see and the frustration and feeling of failure when they lose a patient, particularly when they have to euthanize the pet. Pet owners also sometimes contribute to veterinarians’ stress if they get upset when their emotional needs aren’t met or their pet’s prognosis is poor. While all of these factors were an issue before the pandemic, COVID has aggravated the situation. According to a report released by the Amercian Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA), veterinarians are 2.7 times more likely than the general public to die by suicide and one in six has contemplated suicide. To deal with the increased stress, many veterinarians have cut back on hours while others have left the field entirely. As a result, many practices are struggling to find veterinarians to fill positions. That means they can’t treat as many pets as they would like.
• Veterinary technicians — Veterinarian technicians are a critical component of successful veterinary practices, but they also are susceptible to compassion fatigue and burnout. Male veterinary technicians are five times and female veterinary technicians are 2.3 times more likely to take their own lives. These individuals face many of the same stressors and challenges as veterinarians. They tend to be high achievers, work long hours for low pay, and become invested emotionally in the pets they treat. This dedication can take a significant mental and physical toll, leading to mental health concerns and difficulty in filling open team positions.

Inventory shortages are taking a toll on the veterinary industry

At the height of the pandemic many veterinarians donated their personal protective equipment for use in human medicine which resulted in the postponement of elective procedures. They also faced shortages of disinfectants and cleaning supplies which prevented them from seeing the number of pets they typically would examine each day. Now most areas have reopened and these postponed appointments and procedures have to be scheduled. However the backlog makes it difficult for practices to schedule new appointments and procedures promptly. The current supply chain problems have also caused a shortage of several veterinary pharmaceutical products.

Overwhelmed general practices are overflowing to veterinary emergency practices

The pandemic has forced many general practices to close and others have stopped taking appointments so they can catch up on their backlogs. When pet owners can’t get an appointment at their regular veterinarian, they often take their pet to an emergency practice such as Animal Emergency Care for non-emergency problems. This leads to swamped emergency practices and long wait times.

Capacity limitations are taking a toll on the veterinary industry

Here at Animal Emergency Care, we are limited to one to three emergency veterinarians at any given time because of the nationwide shortage of veterinarians and veterinary technicians. We are currently able to treat an average of 60 patients per day using 17 routine admin beds, six temporary treatment beds, three isolation beds, and one critical care bed. As a result,  our hospital is almost always at capacity. We are committed to caring for your cherished pets and we refuse to jeopardize their care. In addition, our top priority is caring for those patients who are in critical condition. This means we may not be able to see your pet as quickly as you would like.

As a pet owner, you can help our veterinary professionals by being understanding when you talk with them and by practicing patience while you wait for your pet to be evaluated. Please call your family veterinarian for any non-emergency issues with your pet, and if your pet is experiencing a veterinary emergency after hours, contact our team at Animal Emergency Care. #AECprevents 

Sources:

https://todaysveterinarynurse.com/articles/veterinary-suicide-rates-are-higher-including-veterinary-technicians/

https://www.wisfarmer.com/story/news/2021/05/26/alarming-suicide-rates-reflective-stresses-felt-veterinarians/7361193002/

https://todaysveterinarybusiness.com/veterinary-practices-warn-of-ppe-shortages/

https://www.avma.org/javma-news/2021-09-15/are-we-veterinary-workforce-crisis

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