Kibkom North Cyprus Forum

KAR have just been informed of increases in vet costs for both KAR and members of the public. These increases were not notified in advance - only once 13 cats had been collected, by the KAR cat catchers, and were taken to the vet for neutering - KAR were told then that they would be charged at the new price !
The increases were decided on by the TRNC Veterinary Association .
The increases for KAR and other charities/organisations (the increases to members of the public are not yet known to KAR) are ASTOUNDING -

Costs for spaying female cats have increased by 68.5%
Costs for neutering male cats have increased by 100%
Costs for spaying female dogs (from the centre) have increased by 73%
Costs for neutering male dogs (from the centre) have increased by 68.5%
In addition other veterinary procedures and treatments have also increased.

KAR has limited funds for all neutering and these MASSIVE increases will MASSIVELY reduce the numbers of neutering operations that KAR can afford to fund. KAR catch catching will be MASSIVELY reduced as KAR will not be able to afford the same number of operations at such an increased price. Neutering/Spaying of dogs who come into the Centre MUST continue - it is a basic need in rescue centres - not to do so would have horrific effects.
That is without the other vet processes for which KAR will have to pay more now.

Where is the justification in such massive increases ?
Where is the encouragement to have animals (owned or otherwise) neutered ?
Where is the authorities commitment to reducing the number of strays in TRNC ?
What incentive is there for owners on low incomes to have their own pets neutered ?

KAR are incensed and dismayed - and will be taking all of the issues such increases create to the Veterinary Association and the Government Authorities. AGAIN !

How terrible. I am just struggling to get over the cost of having a third rescued dog neutered plus vaccinations, pest control etc. and treatment of an elderly dog........ with these increases I shall never in my lifetime be able to have another dog, which is a particular tragedy in itself since dogs are such great companions for elderly, disabled and lonely people, and in my opinion more should be done to encourage them to adopt strays, where is this move is a serious disencentive.

I do not by any means always agree with KAR but in this matter they have my full support. What about a petition. In my recent explorations of my vilage it seems that 2 households in 3 have at least one dog, so lots of others must be concerned.

Well, this post has had 173 viewings and only one response. Maybe we are all a bit shell shocked, or maybe it's because most pet owners have already had these things done. So it is the future generations of animals that will be the problem that KAR is so aware of and concerned about. It seems to me that this is another TRNC body shooting itself in the foot. Will they never learn?
I have an appointment with my vet on Monday (not for me you understand, it's my little dog. It will be interesting to see how other treatments are affected by this decision. I was hoping that there may be some clarification in Cyprus Today in the morning, but feel this decision may have been timed to miss the deadline for publication.
I sometimes think KAR should throw in the towel and let the Government get on with it, but then it would be the animals that would suffer, so they won't do that. I wish them well in the battles to follow

What have the vets said as regards the reasons for the increases??

terry2366 wrote:What have the vets said as regards the reasons for the increases??

They need a new Mercedes

Sorry that is cynical and I know many Vets are committed to the care of animals and spend a lot of time and expertise over sick ones However they seem to have no compunction about human beings! My Vet is constantly suggesting new and more expensive pesticides and injections. I have been dithering whether to follow the latest suggestion, which I can ill afford but I love the dogs and want to do my best for them. This latest move removes the doubt that they are all really necessary. I shall simply tell the Vet it is too expensive.

I love and respect Turkish Cypriots and owe a lot to friends who have helped me with many problems, but I do think some of them have a talent for killing the goose tht laid the golden eggs and this is an example, Veterinary services are the new growth industry and is preying on the feelings of animal lovers.

RR, couldn't agree with you more

It's about time the government took responsibility for the stray animals in the TRNC. It's ultimately their country and their problem, not the responsibility of charities. The government should be giving grants to charities, not burdening them with increasing veterinary costs.

I am lost for words, the authorities are going back to the dark ages instead of looking forward & improving the life of street dogs. I dread to think of how many will die painful deaths both owned & street dogs as they will not receive the necessary vet care. All I can think of, is hopefully there are enough people to protest about these ludicrous increases & someone will see the light & reverse the decision...........................

Taskent Nature Park has been considering assisting neutering/spaying efforts of stray animals (especially cats) for a time now. It looks like a good time to start talking about a possible cooperation with KAR on the matter

As some of you already know, Taskent Nature Park is a non-for profit organization who is currently running a wildlife rescue and rehabilitation center as well as runs various projects for the benefit of nature, environment and animal welfare.

Please call us at 1190 and we will arrange a meeting.

Sorry but Cartel springs to mind!
We individuals who have always tried to help the animals in need do not have bottomless pockets and the animal charities are the same.
As usual it looks like MONEY rules!
The professionals are in business and have to make a living but where is their compassion?
Is it a government ruling or is this an excuse for the Vets who I believe have recently been together in meetings.
They will not suffer only the animals when people may have to turn away from helping because they cannot afford to.
I know everything seems to be going up in price here but these hikes in costs of treatments are just too much and I do not think can be explained or justified.
Someone tell me otherwise!
BBB's other half .

Costs for spaying female cats have increased by 68.5%
Costs for neutering male cats have increased by 100%
Costs for spaying female dogs (from the centre) have increased by 73%
Costs for neutering male dogs (from the centre) have increased by 68.5%

May I enquire as to the original costs for these items please, to keep it in perspective?

The percentage of increase in fees is indeed a big jump. I can't help but wonder what their thinking is on the reason for such an increase. Surely the cost of drugs hasn't risen that much to qualify for such a rise. Perhaps the veterinary association feels their fees have been too low for too long. They do spend a considerable amount of time and money to get their education, and ensuring they have the equipment to offer all the treatments, surgery, etc. is no small investment either.

I will say compared to the USA... the veterinary fees here are extremely low.

However, this does pose a hardship for the people who rescue all the strays here, provide them with the vaccinations, and see to it that they are neutered and cared for responsibly. I assume most of those "new" adoptee owners are foreigners, or at least that was my impression. Maybe they think all the Xpats have lost of $.

The end result will of course fall on the animals. Less will be rescued, less saved and certainly sterilization and vaccinations will decrease from it's already low level of participation. It's not the solution to the over-population problem. That needs to be addressed by the govt. and registration, chipping and annual licensing actually enforced and penalised when not complying with the laws. Those fees collected could be put to use for humane society's use in spay/neuter and vaccinations.

I see the stray animal population as a threat to community health, for both the people AND their pets that are responsibly cared for... I for one, cannot safely walk my leashed small dog without the daily threat of loose dogs aggressively approaching us. Just last week when out for a walk, we were confronted with two very aggressive bulldogs. I picked up my tiny dog, which only resulted in the two dogs leaping up on me to bite my dog. Luckily another person passing by came to rescue us. It's not fair.

This is certainly very worrying information & will only make what is already a critical situation into a catastrophic one.
We have been using Firdez & subsequently Petcross now for 14 years & have always been amazed at her selfless dedication to the animals (& owners) in her care & her willingness to help strays without monetary reward.
I can only guess that it is the new vets that have come on the scene recently that are doing it for the money although as said above the vets' fees here are minimal compared to UK but then so are some of their overheads i.e. wages, premises costs for example.
It is disgusting that whoever performed the 13 neuters did not inform KAR of the increase when the cats were taken in but we all know that Cypriots are not keen on imparting bad news/
Do we know who is on the TRNC Vet Committee?

waddo wrote:Costs for spaying female cats have increased by 68.5%
Costs for neutering male cats have increased by 100%
Costs for spaying female dogs (from the centre) have increased by 73%
Costs for neutering male dogs (from the centre) have increased by 68.5%

May I enquire as to the original costs for these items please, to keep it in perspective?

A very good question especially as medicine imported will probably be paid in euros, sterling or dollars, it now seems only labour is paid in lira and that seems only when you are employed correctly!

I may not have explained this too well so I am now editing it .....

Can I just add my 2 Penarth ( now that would be 4 with the increases !!) - from what I know the vets who work with KAR do give them a discount (about 30% I think) in comparison to private owners. But if you think of the sheer numbers of cats and dogs that KAR take for treatment week in week out ... the discount is more than recouped by the vets.
My understanding ( I could be wrong) is that this price increase was decided on by the vets who make up the TRNC Vet Association - they all have private practices and at least 1 is also a Government vet. They set the minimum prices which all vets must then work by - they can charge more but not less.
It could be there are maybe 2 possible reasons for such big increases .....
1) - They (Vet Association) are hoping to increase profits for those vets who help/work with KAR (and other organisations). What they were hoping for is that if KAR (etc) take them 100 (just an example number) animals for neutering in 1 month that they will continue to take 100 to them but will pay much higher vet costs - which would then increase the vets profits very nicely !!!!
What they are maybe failing to see is that if KAR (and other organisations) has X amount of TL available for vet treatments that this increase will not see an increase in profit for the vets - it simply means that the number of animals being taken to them by KAR will reduce but the budget spent will still be the same X amount of TL. It is the animals who will suffer - the ones that KAR can no longer afford to pay for.
2) - The Vet Association may comprise vets who do not help/work with KAR. They are maybe jealous of the amount of work that KAR are sending to the KAR vets and they want to reduce that amount of work/income.
Whatever reason - surely it cannot be right.
This will also impact on private owners too as the Vet Association has put all prices up across the board but to what % is not known yet.

The vet who had to charge the higher fees did so because the Vet Association had issued him/her with the new fees which, it seems, were effective with immediate effect. He/she explained to the volunteer cat catchers that KAR would be charged the new charges - but I think it was before he began surgery on the cats. The volunteers were in a difficult situation and I am sure the vet must have felt uncomfortable too - WHY didn't the Vet Association give notice to KAR (etc) and the public of new increases ???? Why are the increases so high ?

The number of animals out there on the streets is increasing. My thoughts!
How on earth can the Vets Association be able to justify putting their prices up and by so much?
Even less animals are going to be helped by individuals and charities and so MORE animals are going to be on the streets often in a bad way with even more animals getting pregnant !
Only winners in this are the Vets who have obviously joined together!
BBB's other half! I did have respect but now!

I had heard prior to this increase that some of the private Vets wanted to offer lower fees to carers of stray animals , but were prevented by the rules of the Veterinary Association and were upset about it. I wonder how they feel now?

I was pleased to see the response of Taskent National Park and hope that KAR will respond positively. There are these days other animal rescue groups, formal and informal, and I suggest these should be invited to cooperate in protests and representations. Particularly those who include TRNC citizens, as any Government pays more attention to voters and be less likely to write it off as yet another expat moan!

No answer to my question so it must be a secret. Can I ask another question then - how many vets are there in the TRNC? The answer could prompt me then to ask why do people think that the current fee's are already expensive and that it is simply a way to make more money of of KAR? Do you really think that KAR is the sole supporter of Vet's in the TRNC? I think there is more to this than meets the eye and the fact that £1.00 now gets you 4.85TL will be a big part of it.

Sorry Waddo you have lost me!
All I am thinking about is the extra cost to me and so many like me who have and always will try and help any animal who we see needs our help.
BBB gets paid in TL and his wages have not gone up so what has the fluctuations in the £1 to the TL have anything to do with the Vet Association deciding to hike their charges up.
Does that mean when the value of the £1 to the TL falls they will lower their prices accordingly?
The Vets in this area have banded together and are now directors of an animal charity. You would think they would want to keep the prices down to help this charity and others!
I will say again ! I am lost !
BBB's other half.

BBB's other half. That was the whole point, BBB get's paid in TL - so do the Vet's and their wages won't have gone up but the price they have to pay for drugs and other items that are bought in US Dollars or in Sterling will have gone up as the TL is now very weak against the £, $ and the Euro. So it costs them more and that has to be passed on to us cat and dog owners. I am also thinking about me and my animals as our budget is not an expanding one but everything else has gone up - either by stealth or directly - so why not the Vet's costs too? Prices never fall, to expect that is to expect that the UK Government would actually care about you if you live here - not a chance. So even if the rate goes back to when we arrived and is at 2.3TL to the £1.00 the prices will stay the same - that is life. This is not going to go away for sure, the vet's provide a service that we MUST pay for, it is all of us that are over the barrel in the same way as we are with the Hospitals, fuel costs, electric costs, water costs (now there is a case of direct theft) and many others. We may moan about it but we are stuck with it - unless you wish your animals to suffer and I doubt that very much indeed!

I asked the questions because I wanted to find out just what the new costs "MAY" be and indeed will we be able to afford them, I asked how many vet's there are because if it is only the vet's "in this area" that have raised their prices, I will seek life elsewhere!!

Has that provided a better answer for you. If not, just yell at me and I will try again, only trying to help.

What I find hard to understand is why if the vets who help KAR are happy with their charges (before the increase) it is ok for another group of vets (the Association) to come along and insist that they begin to charge more !! I know that it is norm in TRNC for minimums to be set - I think it is the same in Dentistry - is it the same in private hospitals I wonder ? as I have never seen a set of minimum charges that apply across the board to ALL hospitals state and private.

Maybe what is needed is "state vet clinics" the same as "State hospitals" that can be used by anyone who cannot afford to go private and where vets are paid a salary and not a share in the profits. Trouble is would anyone work there !!!!

In some areas in India (and other Countries) Charities rely on vets in the area who each voluntarily work at the Charity Clinic for 1 morning/afternoon per week each - for no payment ! They are also encouraged to seek help with community programs from world animal organisations/groups who then go in with specialist teams and help with a specific issue - for example the rabies eradication programme.
The TRNC does not allow such schemes as the visiting vets would not be part of the TRNC Vet Association !!! - what a shame. Just imagine if an organisation could come into TRNC and do nothing, for a specified time, but neutering of the strays and associated treatments. !!!! What a difference it could make.

Waddo - on another social media site it has been stated that the prices will be displayed in all vet clinics for all to see. I assume that is the new increased prices - which apply to ALL vets in TRNC.

WAddo I think the reason no one is telling you the cost is we cant remember.! Personally I try to forget for the sake of my blood pressure! However I had Rosie (my latest)' done' in July and my Credit Card statement shows a payment to the vet of 510TL but I cant remember if I paid for anything else at the same time or if it includes the first of her vaccinations. There is another 170 TL inthe same month, but I think that was for frontline for three, Another reason may be that some Vets do give discounts, I am not clear and have deliberately not asked how this is viewed by the Veterinary ASsociation and maybe we don't want to risk dropping our Vets in trouble.

I take your point that the rate of exchange may well be the "excuse" but as in other areas the increase is prices are higher than the rate, and I doubt if there will be a corresponding decrease in costs when and if the roe changes. From the pet carer's point of view and I suspect of most contributors to Charities, many of us are living on pensions which do not keep up with the TRNC cost of living, and the rate of exchange is insufficient to compensate for the increased price of food, clothing, and essential services let alone Vets bills and charitable cotributions. In additon we are reaching an age when our own medical expenses are overwhelming.

Waddo I would not dream of shouting at you or anybody!
Thank you for your further explanation but as far as I know most of the Vets here in this area own their own practices and so I would have thought it would have been up to the individual to decide how much they want to pay themselves.
I think the government sets the costs for treating the street animals which is at a lesser price than it would be if the animal was a family pet.
I just hope that someone will listen and realize that people like BBB and myself do not have bank accounts that magic money into them.
What we have is hard earned but we would find it hard not to try and help any animal.
BBB's other half - Honest! I am not shouting!

RR, since we are all getting older and all of us are paying more to get older and most of us are living on pensions that never grow at the same rate as inflation, most have from simple to severe mobility issues, many live alone now and have pets for comfort and the majority of us have lived here long enough to understand that prices always go UP in line with exchange rates but very rarely come down with the same exchange rates - I fail to see why you think that the exchange rate is just an "excuse"? However, thank you for your information from your Credit Card - wish we were rich enough to have one of those, lol - but and this is my BIG BUY, as KAR started this whole thread off by publishing the percentages of increase in Vet's fees - they must now what the original fees were so please why not let us know so we have something to base our predicted outspends on?

BBB, I wonder if this is a thing like the car rental people have - as far as I am aware all the "renters" agree on the maximum prices to charge every year - most then undercut those to gain trade, some stick to the max rigidly and a very few just ignore it all and charge what they can get. Maybe the vets association has a similar setup?? We have the same sort of bank accounts that you have by the way, the ones with the small filler hole at the top and the large open end at the bottom - lol. But we would rather have them here than anywhere else!!!!

I know nothing about car rentals but I can ask a man !
We will find out sooner than later when we next have to take one of our Six in plus any of the others at the time we are caring for.
There are other people who have taken in and helped far more than us and we are all going to struggle.
Maybe the government is going to announce FREE neutering for all the street animals so the Vets have got in first to set the charges for their private patients!
Ummm! Reckon I just saw a big PINK elephant flying over Bellapais!
BBB's other half.

waddo - in the original post KAR did say ..... (the increases to members of the public are not yet known to KAR) . I think they were only told what the increases for KAR were to be

As per ifonly latest message, the costs to the general public are going to be more than that charged to KAR. Stands to reason. If anyone knows better then please correct me but I believe that any Vet "doing a favour" to ANY client risks being struck off if it is reported back to the Vet Association. It also begs the question as to whether the likes of Girne Belediye will increase the number of strays, both cats and dogs, they operate on and how much they pay their Vets. Or will they take them to a private Vet but demand a whacking great decrease. I can see us going back to when we first arrived here, dead stray dogs on the side of the road having died of starvation or hit by traffic and loads of scrawny, emaciated untouchable feral cats and kittens all over the place.

We had a male dog neutered last week, it would have cost 350tl however the Petline vet did it for 300tl as the dog has been in his kennels for the last 5 months awaiting rehoming in the UK, very cheap compared to UK prices.

Well said, Sophie.

Waldo: Yes I know a lot of us are in the same boat - some better or worse than others, but most struggling and Vets fees may be the last straw.

Up to recently I have supported and accepted the Turkish Cypriots assumption that expats are richer than them, and taking advantage of the fact.
(and given their history it is understandable and forgiveable)....

However , judging from the new cars and houses that many TCs seem to be able to afford that situation has reversed. and the Government's income from all these new high rise building must be enormous. Brit expats will either be leaving the country or tightening their belts even more as a result of this decision : either way as said above, the animals will suffer.

Well, as a Brit ex-pat and having read the comments made by Mr Kidd, this here Waldo/WAddo or even me - WADDO - will just tighten it up another notch, grow more, buy less, walk more instead of driving, take my huge savings out of any TRNC bank and save it elsewhere - may even open an account in the UK but that sounds dodgy to me. I will not be joining the "Droves" of expats hurtling off back to the UK, I am staying put, where the grass may not always be green but, where my heart is! All in all I will make sure my two dogs have their annual boosters, visit the vet when they need to and continue to eat the best food I can get for them. Theirs is a short lifespan compared to mine and they deserve to enjoy it. If the vet's and the government want to make a fortune out of the misfortune of other animals then I feel sure that they will pay in other ways one day.

Waddo, I agree in many ways re taking my 4 dogs to the Vets when necessary but I will be more picky than before. Sad to say, some of the Vet clinics have a touch of the "Emperors New Clothes" about them. Just because a lot of people say "this or that clinic in the area is definitely the best" doesn't actually make it so. There are many other Vets (but much lesser known) are great and very caring. Unfortunately there are some that I wouldn't touch with a 10ft barge pole and how they are still in business I have no idea. (Probably related to someone in Government). I am fast coming to the conclusion that one of mine (14 yrs old) is beginning to suffer from dementia. It's so sad, because he can't understand what is happening to him. He just needs a Vet that is caring and loving, not necessarily a Vet that has the wall plastered with certificates who is going to try and bleed me dry with "try this drug, try that drug.

Carrying on from Sophie's post!
I have never known Vets in the UK wanting so many blood tests for this that and the other!
Here you walk into some and it is you need this you need that and when you try to put you don't you get that Cypriot shrug!
We know we have spent money on ours that did not need to be spent but they have got you!
We will all keep on caring because that is us but please do not take us for fools!
BBB's other half X

As a pet owner (2 rescue dogs from KAR) I would happily approach the TRNC Vets Assoc to ask it to explain these increased costs. Can anybody provide me with contact details please? I will post any response here.

Sounds like a plan, Hope4Pets achieved charity status recently & their "non AGM" was attended by several vets........ I wonder what they knew at that time

No wonder foreigners think the Brits are mad, particularly about dogs This post has attracted more posts than all but one on this page and far more about problems human beings have experienced which often only get one or two readers!

Not disagreeing with the thread or anything said on it, I am as distressed about the increase as anyone, but it does make one wonder why humans dont get so much compassion - four legs and a tail?

tomsteel wrote:As a pet owner (2 rescue dogs from KAR) I would happily approach the TRNC Vets Assoc to ask it to explain these increased costs. Can anybody provide me with contact details please? I will post any response here.

That is a very helpful suggestion, Tom Steel, but I respectfully suggest it might be best to wait until we have more information. As Waddo said in an earlier post, there might well be more to this than meets the eye, and we are a bit short on info so far. I suggest at least waiting until we know what the charges will be for individuals: it might even be that the Veterinary Association has decided that those who give of their own money directly and care for dog hands on are as entitled to special fees as a Charity and are not putting up rates to individuals. Incidentally, do the other animal charities get special rates and are they being altered?

Don't start another witch hunt against me for this, I am only putting one possible point of view and am as anxious as anyone to get fair does for ALL animal carers.

I would also be interested in KAR's response to the offer from the Nature Park, and whether there have been any approaches to or from other animal charities: we really should try to present a united front on this one.

There is only one other animal charity in North Cyprus & that is Hope4Pets, but they have been very quiet. They attained their charity status very recently and at a "nonAGM" which was attended by several vets I wonder what was known at this time.....

I hope it is not a case of ''I'll scratch your back if you scratch mine''!
KAR started this post saying the fee's for them have been hiked up without warning.
Are they hinting that for others the fees will not be as much?
Is that what this is all about.? Surely not? How could anyone win from this?
Have the fee's for EVERYONE (including Joe Public and all other groups that help the animals officially or unofficially) gone up?
Reckon I had better give the Vet we use a call although he has been away at a meeting with other Vets since Wednesday.
He is one of the ones named as a director for the newly official charity so should know something but whether we will get to to be told!
I would hope so .
This will affect so many of us who have taken on 'too'' many animals already and still are helping others! I think that is why this post has had so many reads and comments.
I am going to have to do more 'home' treatments of my animals as many of my friends do already who have taken on more than me.

BBB's other half.

BBB - apparently the fees for some/all treatments have gone up ...but it may be that, for privately owned pets, the % is more or less than the % increases that KAR (and any other charity .) will have to pay. There should be a new list of charges at each vets. KAR has only quoted the increases in their neutering costs - that will have a big impact on them as they neuter many many cats and dogs each year. That is without the increases that they will have in other areas of vet treatment (which from what I have heard KAR have not been given those new charges yet)
The timing all seems a bit odd - introduced when lots of the vets were abroad at a conference !!!! .

Ifonly - as my Vet was with the others at a meeting!
Maybe the timing was that they were out the way when the ---- hit the pan!
Maybe TomSteele could represent us Kibkomers and contact the Vet Association as he offered.
When we get price increases in whatever we all have a moan but we always get through it but the costs of care for the animals whether street or family members if too much could be the decider between life or death.
As said before in previous posts we do not have bottomless pockets or self filling bank accounts.
BBB's other half.

Does anyone know when the last increase was? - or indeed, if there has ever been an increase announced before?

Have they regularly increased charges by 5 % or 7 % per annum in line with inflation? - Or have they left it for 10 or 15 years before realising that they need to do something?

Just a thought...

From 1996 to post 2004 there was to my knowledge only one Vet in the Girne area and he was incredibly cheap. There was only one type of parasite treatment and that was the one used for sheep, and could cause mange in dogs! There were no people charging for exercising or sitting dogs, we looked after each others', and those of the sick and elderly. Most of also trimmed and groomed our own, although the Vet would do that

Post 2914 the Brutish (oops , sorry, British) invasion not only demanded large new villas with swimming pools, and imported vehicles too large for the roads. a lot also brought pedigree dogs to match. To be fair to them a lot of them also adopted stray animals. Young Turkish Cypriots do have a habit of following bad examples and this was one as regards the larger, more dangerous breeds of dog. Naturally, the demand for increased veterinary services increased and was met by younger, more ambitious and hungrier Vets. At the same time import restrictions seem to have relaxed and a lot more modern medications were available - just as with human medicine the drug companies took advantage of need and prices have soared ever since. The fact that the new British imput also seemed to be a lot better off (or thought they were) than the early retired, working for a minimum wage, "Ancient Brits" they could also afford to pamper their pets, which lead to glamorous surgeries and unnecessary extras.
Because when a dog is ill, most of are too upset and anxious to ask for a quote in advance, and too upset (or relieved) afterwards to query bills, Vets may well have concluded we are a "soft touch" It does not help that Vets do not seem to issue itemised receipts

In answer to Keith's query, I believe veterinary costs have increased substantially over the last 15 years, but I for one have not kept records. I am pretty sure however that I, and others, would have remembered if there has been any one single increase as large as that now reported by KAR

I am pretty sure that the reason for the Veterinary Society's restriction on reduced fees is because with the large number of Vets now in the country there could be an undercutting war which would be damaging for the profession, the customer and the animals.

I have my suspicions as to the reasons for this increase, but they were not be well received by many here.

Not totally relevant, but a light-hearted glimpse of one vet's problems...
I especially like the reaction in the last few seconds......

A brilliantly funny ad, I love the gulping cat at the end - perhaps we'd all be better off going to Specsavers

Anyone who has not yet read today's Cyprus Today , I suggest you have a look at it. I leave others to read it and decide the implications for themselves as I have already been unpleasantly attacked for what was taken as a criticism of KAR . It seems the Vets are very angry and upset by KAR's alleged misquotation of fees and accuse them of stirring up t rouble beween Vets. None of which of course will do other than harm to the British Community as a whole and dog owners in particular.

Unfortunately no one, KAR, the Veteranians Union, nor , indeed, Cyprus Today have seen fit to mention the effect on individual carers and smaller charities.

However it may be a little comfort to indviduals already feeling the pinch that the VA has stated that increased fees which they say actually commenced on lst Jan, although some Vets had previously not applied them, . had on "only" risen by 20 to 25%. Still a lot of money for some of us, but a lot better than what was alleged by KAR. Also apparently under the rules of the Union discretionary discounts of up to 40% with those who charge less subject to warnings and possible fines.

I shall nobly resist the temptation to say "I told you so" but I did advise caution and getting the full facts before taking action.

Ragged Robin wrote:...I have already been unpleasantly attacked for what was taken as a criticism of KAR...

I can't see any attack on you - on this thread at any rate - could you point me to the relevant post please?

- and thank you for bringing the Cyprus Today piece to wider attention!

Keithcaley wrote:

Ragged Robin wrote:...I have already been unpleasantly attacked for what was taken as a criticism of KAR...

I can't see any attack on you - on this thread at any rate - could you point me to the relevant post please?

Not on this thread , KC, it was on others, particularly the thread about the meaning of "Charity" which I started some time ago,, and had to abandon because it got so unpleasant. I was tempted to resurrect it after some comments onthe other KAR thread, but decided I just do not have time to get involved in that type of argument.

- and thank you for bringing the Cyprus Today piece to wider attention!

Yes well I know (and understand) that some people do not read it any more. I hope this may be of a little comfort to those who were really worried by the original post on this thread.

What was also unfortunately omitted from the Cyprus Today piece was any reference to the cost of medications for animals - it may not be relevant to the KAR/VA situation but is really of intrest to pet carers.

I have 'no dog in this fight' - [yes pun intended ] but on balance in the article from Cyprus Today ... there is a comment from Margaret Ray for KAR saying the situation had become 'confusing' and that they would calculate the prices again. There is room for error and so maybe a genuine mistake has been made?

Mr D. This should not be a fight! As far as I am concerned it is an attempt by people( who are giving a lot of time and money we can ill afford, without much support either from a recognised Charity or the authorities, to care of unfortunate animals ) to find out exactly what went wrong and exactly how much increase we may expect to pay on what are already substantial drains on our limited incomes!

I agree there is a lot of room here for error, and maybe also something got lost in translation, but it was a rather large error and the way the original post was presented, which some may consider somewhat aggressive, does lead to the suspicion that there was rather more background to the situation that we , the readers of this thread, have been allowed to know about.