To the Editor:

Yesterday, my husband and I had to say goodbye to our elderly dog. It was one of the most heartbreaking days we have experienced as pet parents. In addition to the emotional pain, we faced a 60–70 minute drive to reach an open veterinary facility to euthanize Tanner on a Sunday, enduring not only grief but also the anxiety of not having emergency care available locally.

I am writing in sincere confusion and concern.

Berkshire County has a number of well-established veterinary practices, each staffed with multiple veterinarians and veterinary technicians. From what is publicly listed, Berkshire Veterinary Hospital, Greylock Veterinary Hospital, North County Veterinary Clinic, and South Street Veterinary Services collectively employ approximately 16 veterinarians, in addition to support staff. Yet despite this, our community does not appear to have consistent 24/7 emergency coverage.

Meanwhile, a facility roughly an hour away manages to provide around-the-clock care, sometimes with veterinarians commuting to cover emergency shifts.

This raises an important question: why is this not possible here in Berkshire County?

I understand there is a nationwide veterinary shortage, and I deeply respect the demanding and emotionally taxing work veterinarians do. However, with the number of professionals practicing locally, I wonder whether there might be alternative solutions worth exploring.

For example: Could practices collaborate on a shared emergency rotation system? Could a regional after-hours cooperative be formed?

Is per diem or rotating emergency coverage between clinics financially or logistically possible? Are there regulatory, insurance, or financial barriers that make this unworkable?

If there are valid reasons preventing 24/7 emergency care from being established here, I believe many pet owners would feel comforted simply understanding those reasons. Transparency would help our community to understand.  Pets are family members. In moments of crisis, time and location matter deeply. Even a collaborative or limited after-hours rotation system could provide peace of mind to pet parents throughout the county.

I share these thoughts while still grieving, but also hoping perhaps this experience might spark discussion about emergency coverage. 

Diane Spina