This is really scary!!

Please read the following posts!

The first is by Lily’s Place President and Co-Founder, Tim Clancy. (Facebook | Linkedin)

The second is by Michelyn Sciannella. (Facebook)

• Michelyn is Lily’s Place’s treasurer (on the board of directors). She also has her own farm animal sanctuary in NB and knows firsthand how scary the provincial government’s decision to phase out large-animal vets and lab services is.

After reading, please take action!

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This is deeply concerning.

Susan Holt and the Government of New Brunswick has announced that it is phasing out veterinary field services for large animals, like Merlin. This is not a simple transition to private care. In many parts of this province, there is no private practice available to fill that gap, and there never will be. Large animals, especially unwell ones, cannot be loaded into a hatchback and taken to an emergency clinic in the city.

What this effectively means is that New Brunswick could be left with little to no access to veterinary care for farm animals, horses, and other large animals.

Let that sink in.

Large animal veterinary care already operates on the edge here. It requires long travel distances, specialized equipment, and a willingness to serve rural areas that are sparsely populated. Without government-supported field services, that fragile system doesn’t just weaken, it risks disappearing.

The consequences are serious:

• Animals in pain or distress may not receive care at all
• Emergencies could go untreated or be delayed beyond help
• Preventable suffering will increase
• Disease risks rise when animals cannot be properly assessed, treated, or monitored

This is, at its core, an animal welfare issue.

These animals are domesticated, and they rely entirely on humans to meet their needs, including medical care. Removing the only systems that provide that care, without a realistic alternative in place, leaves them vulnerable in a way that is hard to justify.

For those of us working in rescue and farming in rural communities, this isn’t theoretical. We know how hard it already is to access large animal vets. This decision will make an already strained situation significantly worse.

The provincial vets at our local office have been absolutely amazing to deal with. They have come out to Lily’s Place Animal Sanctuary at all hours to save lives or reduce suffering. That is something we risk not having access to. This is incredibly scary. We’re sick to our stomachs thinking about what this might mean for animals across NB.

We should be finding ways to improve access to care, especially in rural areas. Not removing it. Services have already been cut in recent years, and animals are suffering because of it.

You can sign a petition here:
https://c.org/HRWwWM49Kb

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“Vets save lives. Harvey wouldn’t be here without our incredible vets. Not all animals can be transported for care. Taking away our provincial vets here in NB is going to be a death sentence for many innocent large animals who will suffer because of this decision. The private clinics are already full, so that is not a feasible option for many of us. We stand behind the vets and will do whatever we can to support them. They have one of the toughest jobs out there and don’t deserve this.” ~ Michelyn, Forever Farm Animal Sanctuary

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TAKE ACTION

Take action by signing the petition and calling the numbers below to tell them that our provincial vets & labs are essential services that need to be funded.

Susan Holt
Susan.holt@gnb.ca
506-259-5700
570 Queen Street, Unit E104
Fredericton, NB E3B 6Z6

Minister of Agriculture – Pat Finnigan
Pat.Finnigan@gnb.ca
506-427-1706
9235 Main Street, Unit 2
Richibucto, NB E4W 4B4