To Whom It May Concern,

I am writing to strongly oppose additional regulations on large animal veterinary practices in Virginia.

There is already an extreme shortage of large animal veterinarians across the Commonwealth, and my community is a clear example. In Grayson County, the City of Galax, and parts of Carroll County, we have only FOUR large animal veterinarians serving this entire region. The geographic area they are responsible for is vast and, at times, unmanageable. These veterinarians are working beyond capacity to meet the needs of farmers, livestock producers, and animal owners.

Large animal veterinarians are already under immense strain. They routinely work 12–15 hour days and are often on call 24 hours a day. A significant portion of their time is spent traveling between farms and clients’ homes—time that could otherwise be spent treating more animals. Despite injuries and personal hardships, they continue to show up because they have no choice. I personally know of a veterinarian who continued working through major surgeries, including shoulder and ankle replacements. Another was severely injured by a horse—suffering a broken jaw and losing teeth—and was back to work the very next day because animals and clients depended on her.

Haul-in facilities are not a luxury—they are a necessity. These facilities allow veterinarians to treat more patients in a single day in a safe, controlled, and properly equipped environment. They are specifically designed for large animal care and provide access to surgical tools, medications, and trained veterinary assistants. Without them, veterinarians are often forced to perform major procedures, including cesarean sections, in fields, on farms, or in outdated barns—conditions that are far less safe for both the animal and the veterinarian.

Additional regulations will not improve care—they will increase costs. Large animal veterinarians already pay substantial fees, taxes, and overhead expenses. Any new regulatory burden will inevitably be passed on to clients. Farmers and small animal owners like myself are already struggling to afford veterinary care. I currently have to make payments to cover my veterinary expenses, and I know I am not alone.

If costs continue to rise, farmers will be forced to make difficult decisions: cutting corners in animal care, reducing herd sizes, or leaving agriculture altogether. Small and family farms are not highly profitable businesses—they are barely sustaining themselves while providing food, dairy, and agricultural products to our communities.

We cannot afford to lose more veterinarians, and we cannot afford to make it harder for them to do their jobs.

I respectfully urge you to reconsider any additional regulations that would place further strain on large animal veterinarians. Please listen to the individuals and communities who will be directly affected—those of us who rely on these professionals every single day.

Thank you for your time and consideration.

Mrs. Tyra Sharpe

4765 Delhart Rd

Galax, VA 24333

ph 276-237-5211