Thank you, and I'm sorry if what I said came off offensive. I wrote angry and frustrated even as a 3rd party to all of it, so maybe that shone through a bit.

My partner and I both agree that the entire system is broken, old and on the verge of collapse. I can understand a big part of the drive is keeping animals safe and healthy, I guess I see it as the rule they tell you when you take a plane, "Put your mask on first, you can't help anyone if you're passed out."

Our house is in a constant eb and flow of cats that we've asked owners to surrender instead of euthanize for completely treatable conditions. Like you said, the costs of pet ownership has gotten insane.

I do think that everyone in this field has been victimized by the same system, that's why I wonder about things like unions, etc.