Final signature count: 402

402 signatures toward our 30,000 goal

Before millions of pet owners call a vet, they ask themselves one question: Can I afford this? Too often, they have no way to find out — not until they're already sitting in the exam room. That uncertainty has consequences. Families delay care, skip visits, and watch their animals suffer from conditions that were treatable when they first appeared.

This isn't a small problem. A Gallup survey found that veterinarians themselves name cost as the top reason pet owners decline recommended care — not distance, not time, not anything else. Cost. And the uncertainty that surrounds it.³

The Numbers Are Hard to Ignore

The American Veterinary Medical Association has reported both rising price sensitivity among clients and a measurable drop in clinic visits.² Pets aren't getting healthier — their owners are staying away because they don't know what they'll owe. A MetLife Pet Insurance survey found that many pet owners have delayed or skipped appointments specifically out of fear that the bill would be more than they could handle. The anxiety about cost is enough to keep people from scheduling in the first place.⁴

When care is delayed, minor problems become major ones. A condition that costs little to treat early can become serious, painful, and far more expensive later. Animals suffer. Their owners carry guilt — and often debt.

Most Clinics Post No Prices at All

Research published in Frontiers in Veterinary Science examined small animal veterinary clinics across the United States and found that online price transparency is virtually absent from the industry.¹ Routine services that could easily be listed — wellness exams, vaccines, spay and neuter procedures — are rarely posted anywhere a prospective client could find them before making an appointment.

Dental offices post cleaning fees. Urgent care centers display visit costs. Pharmacies list prescription prices. Veterinary care remains one of the few medical services where families have almost no way to plan ahead, compare options, or even know whether a visit is within their reach.

The Fix Is Simple

State veterinary licensing boards have the authority to set standards for the clinics they license. Requiring clinics to publish prices for routine services — and to provide written estimates before non-emergency procedures — would not compromise care. It would let families budget. It would reduce the shock of unexpected bills. And it would bring more pets through clinic doors, because their owners would no longer be guessing at costs they're afraid they can't cover.

Human medicine is already moving in this direction. Veterinary care can do the same. The families who love their animals deserve the information they need to care for them — before a crisis, not after.

Sign the petition today to urge state veterinary licensing boards to require price transparency. Pets deserve timely care, and their families deserve the chance to plan for it.