I don't know the answers to those questions, but I'm pretty sure it's a lot. A big chunk of this whole complex mess is about the cost of care. What hasn't been said yet is that vet practices, clinics and centres like this one are all private businesses. Some are corporate chains, others are small groups. And then there are some independence. They set their fees how they want, they pay their staff how they want and invest in their practices how they want. Effectively, they provide a service like a dry cleaner, or a crash repairer or any other as pet owners, you and I are free to use or to not use their service, and we can go somewhere else if we're not happy. We discovered last episode, the vast majority of vets don't earn a lot. And if they own a practice, most aren't driving to their beach houses in Ferraris. I certainly know mine isn't. But they do have to cover the costs of running a business to stay viable. They get kicked, bitten spat on, and some spend their days with their arms up and animals bomb. They do what they do to treat and save animals. If it was about the money, many say they'd be doing something else. When I take Harvey to my vet, and he discounts my bill, which he does do and I tell him off for it that comes out of his pocket his bottom line. Now if he does that, for all his family and friends, you know shaves a bit off here and there, what's leftover, and where's the money to upgrade equipment or buy medication or pay for his staff when he can get staff then add in the stray animals and the wildlife that vets treat because they've been brought in off the street. They don't get paid for that either. And yet, there's still this backlash because people argue that the fees are too high, and they want to discount, it's just not sustainable. The average household spends $617 on vet bills for their dog, and $717 for their cat each year. care costs money, and it can be expensive. And the cost varies depending on whether it's a general checkup around vaccinations or something more serious. A standard dog or cat vet check could sit around the 50 to $100 mark. A vaccination will set you back 80 or $90 each year for an adult animal and a couple of $100 for puppies and kittens. Well, a teeth clean could cost anywhere from four to $500. And if you need to take a trip to emergency well, that can be in the 1000s