Veterinary medicine is changing rapidly across the U.S. and internationally.
In recent years, private equity and large corporate groups have acquired thousands of veterinary hospitals. Some people have strong feelings about this. Others don’t know it’s happening at all.
This page is here to support transparency and informed decision-making — whether you are choosing care for your own animals, working in veterinary medicine, or involved in animal welfare.
The interactive map below is maintained by Private Equity Vet and tracks thousands of corporate and private-equity-owned veterinary practices.
You can zoom, search by city or ZIP, or explore ownership groups.
Map Source: PrivateEquityVet.org
Used with attribution. Data maintained by original authors.
Why This Matters for Animal Welfare & Access to Care
Ownership structure alone does not determine the quality of care an individual veterinarian provides. Many incredible veterinarians work in corporate-owned hospitals.
However, ownership trends can influence:
Pricing structures
• Appointment availability
• Pricing structures
• Service models
• Local access to care
• Availability of low-cost or community support programs
For communities working to address animal overpopulation and access to veterinary care — especially rural areas — understanding the landscape helps us plan better solutions.
How This Connects to Our Work
In Franklin County and many rural regions, access to affordable veterinary care is one of the largest barriers to reducing animal overpopulation.
Our work focuses on:
• Increasing access to spay/neuter
• Supporting pet owners before crisis happens
• Reducing surrender and stray populations
• Supporting veterinary teams doing this work every day
Transparency tools like this map help communities understand the current care landscape while we work to expand access locally.
Important Notes
- Ownership changes frequently
- Not all acquisitions are public
- Corporate ownership ≠ good or bad care by default
- Always evaluate individual clinics based on care quality, communication, and outcomes
What You Can Do
Support Local Clinics: Consider patronizing independently owned veterinary practices when possible.
Ask Questions: Inquire about the ownership of your veterinary clinic.
Share Information: Educate fellow pet owners about the implications of clinic ownership.