The Southern Ontario/WNY Radio-TV Forum / CBC's Marketplace and The Fifth Estate Have A BIG Pet Peeve

**Posted by betaylored** January 26, 2025 9:44 am

Two of the best shows on CBC, Marketplace and The Fifth Estate have teamed up and are shedding light on the challenges pet owners are facing when it comes to getting good veterinary care for their family pets. Big corporations have changed the way veterinary clinics operate, and it's not a change for the better.

They approached it from two different angles.

Marketplace did their usual and always fascinating undercover operation to compare care and prices.
https://youtu.be/b2o1mZqB_3M?si=FDq-UyQ_z56yRTTj

The Fifth Estate took a more emotional and personal approach while still being factual about the business of pet care.

https://youtu.be/9CiXnoCKu6U?si=zxjKzkjEWw6pQfUq

I can't imagine another news organization doing such a thorough look at this story. Anyone who thinks defunding the CBC is a legit idea must be barking mad.

I'm also posting this on here for two other reasons. I know quite a few big yellow boarders have a dog and or cat and may find the stories helpful/interesting. And I hope Newstalk 1010 will take the opportunity to do their own look at the pet care story and share insights on how to navigate reasonable pet care with their listeners, in between all their excellent election coverage of course. I bet you'd get a good response when it comes to people calling in and sharing their stories.

Last edited by betaylored (January 26, 2025 9:47 am)

**Posted by RadioActive** January 26, 2025 9:54 am

I watched this last night and it was awful to see but not surprising. And yes, it was very informative. As the owner of an aging dog, nothing here really surprised me. (In fact, I'm convinced I'm solely responsible for putting my vet's kids through college.)

Too bad CFRB no longer has veterinarian Clayton Greenway on anymore. I can only imagine what he'd have to say about what was revealed in the show. Would he have defended the practice or condemned it? We'll never know, but it might have been worth asking.

**Posted by mic'em** January 26, 2025 10:04 am

It is coming up on a year since I had to put my beloved border collie ' Brodus ' down at a cost of 1100$. I have not replaced him with another animal. I drive by the Sudbury SPCA everyday day on my way to and from work and see the volunteers walking the dogs . It breaks my heart knowing that if they don't find a home, their days are numbered. As much I would like to have another four legged friend, my wife and I have decided to not get another one at this point in our lives. We travel to Ottawa frequently now to see grandchildren and family and with two recent newborns there, the respective parents have asked not to bring any animals.

**Posted by Scarboroughbluffsradiof99** January 26, 2025 2:47 pm

Good job CBC.
I hope they keep 2 of their best shows.
Please let marketplace and the 5th estate live on.

**Posted by pinto** January 26, 2025 3:00 pm

My former Vet clinic is on the list of corporate companies. There was one point where I took my very ill dog to the clinic and the first thing I was asked.. how are you going to pay for this. Again.. former.. and I have pet insurance.

**Posted by Saul** January 26, 2025 3:48 pm

betaylored wrote:
I can't imagine another news organization doing such a thorough look at this story. Anyone who thinks defunding the CBC is a legit idea must be barking mad.

Barking, maybe. Mad, no. I think there's a general desire to keep the hounds off the trail.

**Posted by Scarboroughbluffsradiof99** January 26, 2025 6:37 pm

mic'em wrote:
It is coming up on a year since I had to put my beloved border collie ' Brodus ' down at a cost of 1100$. I have not replaced him with another animal. I drive by the Sudbury SPCA everyday day on my way to and from work and see the volunteers walking the dogs . It breaks my heart knowing that if they don't find a home, their days are numbered. As much I would like to have another four legged friend, my wife and I have decided to not get another one at this point in our lives. We travel to Ottawa frequently now to see grandchildren and family and with two recent newborns there, the respective parents have asked not to bring any animals.

Sorry about your loss.
I know its a radio forum, But I don't think you should get another pet so soon after a deth.
Your a smart pet owner.
During the pandemic, people just got pets to post on social media and give back when it was not cool inuf.
Those pet owners are so infuriating to me.
A pet is not a toy, Its like your baby that you can also leav alone at home when you have to work.
Baby your pets, but not to much ware you cant leav them alone for the day.

**Posted by Scarboroughbluffsradiof99** January 26, 2025 6:40 pm

Saul wrote:
betaylored wrote:
I can't imagine another news organization doing such a thorough look at this story. Anyone who thinks defunding the CBC is a legit idea must be barking mad.
Barking, maybe. Mad, no. I think there's a general desire to keep the hounds off the trail.

The hownds meaning the far-left hosts on the CBC.
I was listening yesterday to radio 1, and its inprouved somewhat.

**Posted by MJ Vancouver** January 27, 2025 1:20 am

pinto wrote:
My former Vet clinic is on the list of corporate companies. There was one point where I took my very ill dog to the clinic and the first thing I was asked.. how are you going to pay for this. Again.. former.. and I have pet insurance.

There’s three vet clinics in London my family and I have dealt with over the years for our various dogs and cats, and fortunately they all still appear to be independent based on CBC’s list. Scholl’s Animal Hospital in Hyde Park, the Byron Animal Clinic, and Staples Animal Hospital. They were all good to our pets, all of whom have passed on.

Scholl’s has been in business for over 30 years, and the Byron clinic we dealt with back in the early-mid 80s so they’ve been around at least 40 years.

Last edited by MJ Vancouver (January 27, 2025 1:23 am)

**Posted by Johnny B** January 27, 2025 2:39 pm

Vets know they got you by the ballz the second you walk in their door...how many people would simply put their animal down without first trying the hundreds if not thousands of dollars in remedies the vet says might or might not work...pretty much anyway you slice it a trip to the vet is a minimum $300 ordeal in many places, then it goes up from there....the visit, xrays, drugs, tests, special food that they control...they are playing on your emotions and it's fricken borderline evil.