Tim, our president and co-founder, was interviewed by CBC yesterday about the devastating news from the provincial government that they will be phasing out large-animal (farm animal) veterinary field (on-site) services by the end of the year! The lab services are to be phased out within 3 years. 

Lily’s Place relies on provincial veterinarians and lab services to care for the neglected, injured, abandoned, and displaced farm animals that come to LP for help. 

A misconception we often hear is that these services are free for Lily’s Place because we’re a charity. However, that’s not true.

In 2025, LP paid out $24,519.05 for veterinary and lab services (all covered by donations). 

The provincial government ensures that large animal veterinarians, support staff, and everyone involved in lab services are in place. When their services are needed, the client pays the fees for those services. 

To think that the private sector will be able to swoop in and be prepared for a transition to keep service needs covered before the provincial government phases out access to provincial veterinarians is unrealistic at best and, at the worst, downright impossible.

As a former business owner for a decade and a half before founding the sanctuary, I (Jamie) know firsthand how ridiculous it is to expect the whole province to make this switch without leaving animals to suffer.

If there were an opportunity for private practice to operate in all corners of NB for the types of animals that provincial veterinarians care for, that would have happened already. The fact is that there aren’t enough provincial veterinarians to cover the whole province as it is, especially in exceptionally rural areas. Business loves nothing more than an opportunity to fill a gap when demand is there *AND* it’s profitable to do so with products or services. 

The demand is there, as NB’s animals can’t go without this essential service, but the profit margins aren’t.  Without adequate profit margins, the private sector won’t be able to provide the level of service that provincial vets currently provide, let alone keep the offices open.  We’ll see less coverage, fewer offices, and greater suffering. 

That’s not an NB we want to see!

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TAKE ACTION

1) Call & Write

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

Let them know the animals of NB need veterinarians & lab services!

2) Sign the Petition 
https://tinyurl.com/nbvets

3) Support Rescue 
https://lilysplace.ca

4) Free Ways To Help
https://lilysplace.ca/help4free

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