07/29/2026
𝐀𝐧 𝐈𝐦𝐩𝐨𝐫𝐭𝐚𝐧𝐭 𝐀𝐧𝐧𝐨𝐮𝐧𝐜𝐞𝐦𝐞𝐧𝐭 𝐟𝐫𝐨𝐦 𝐒𝐎𝐒 𝐨𝐟 𝐎𝐡𝐢𝐨
For more than 20 years, SOS of Ohio has been committed to one simple belief: every pet deserves access to veterinary care, regardless of their family's financial circumstances.
Today, it is with tremendous sadness that we announce the closure of our East Livingston Spay & Neuter Clinic.
This is the hardest decision our organization has ever had to make. It is also one we have spent months trying to avoid.
Many people will understandably ask, "Why?"
The answer isn't simple. It is the result of three challenges that have collided at the same time: a nationwide shortage of veterinarians, dramatically increasing operating costs, and a growing demand for affordable veterinary care from families and rescue organizations who simply cannot afford the true cost of that care.
𝐓𝐡𝐞 𝐕𝐞𝐭𝐞𝐫𝐢𝐧𝐚𝐫𝐲 𝐖𝐨𝐫𝐤𝐟𝐨𝐫𝐜𝐞 𝐂𝐫𝐢𝐬𝐢𝐬
Across the country, veterinary medicine is facing an unprecedented workforce shortage. Nonprofit organizations and shelters have been especially affected.
The veterinarians who choose shelter and nonprofit medicine do so because they believe in the mission—not because it is easy.
On a typical surgery day, our doctors spend six or more hours continuously performing surgery before moving directly into examinations, sick patients, emergencies, and client consultations. It is physically demanding, emotionally exhausting work that requires immense dedication.
At the same time, larger corporate veterinary practices are often able to offer significantly higher salaries, larger support staffs, more flexible schedules, and better work-life balance. As much as we wish we could compete, the reality is that we simply cannot.
𝐓𝐡𝐞 𝐅𝐢𝐧𝐚𝐧𝐜𝐢𝐚𝐥 𝐑𝐞𝐚𝐥𝐢𝐭𝐲
For years, SOS of Ohio has intentionally kept our prices as low as possible because we know the families we serve need affordable veterinary care.
Today, many of our clients are struggling financially. Some come to us needing lifesaving treatment with little or no ability to contribute toward the cost of care. We have never wanted finances to determine whether a pet receives help.
Meanwhile, the cost of providing veterinary medicine continues to rise.
Medications, surgical supplies, laboratory testing, equipment, utilities, insurance, and employee benefits have all increased dramatically. Every surgery and every appointment costs substantially more to provide than it did just a few years ago.
Our rescue partners face these same challenges. We have proudly offered discounted care to help them save thousands of animals, but many rescue organizations are also struggling to raise enough money to continue their lifesaving work.
The heartbreaking reality is this:
If we raised our prices enough to cover our actual costs, many of the families we exist to serve could no longer afford care.
If we kept prices affordable—as we always have—we could no longer keep the clinic financially sustainable.
Eventually, those two realities collided.
𝐖𝐞 𝐓𝐫𝐢𝐞𝐝
We know many people will be disappointed. Some may even be angry.
Please know this decision was not made because we stopped believing in our mission.
It was made because, despite every effort, we could no longer find a path that would allow us to continue providing affordable care while maintaining the staffing and financial resources necessary to operate safely and responsibly.
𝐖𝐡𝐚𝐭 𝐖𝐞 𝐀𝐜𝐜𝐨𝐦𝐩𝐥𝐢𝐬𝐡𝐞𝐝 𝐓𝐨𝐠𝐞𝐭𝐡𝐞𝐫
Because of your support, we have been able to:
• Perform 𝟏𝟒𝟕,𝟑𝟎𝟖 spay and neuter surgeries.
• Provide care for 𝟏𝟗𝟐,𝟗𝟎𝟕 patients.
• Donate more than $𝟏𝟖𝟎,𝟎𝟎𝟎 in lifesaving veterinary services.
• Help countless rescue organizations continue their lifesaving work.
• Prevent the birth of hundreds of thousands of unwanted puppies and kittens through accessible spay/neuter services.
Every one of those accomplishments belongs to our staff, volunteers, donors, rescue partners, and clients who believed in our mission.
𝐖𝐡𝐚𝐭 𝐇𝐚𝐩𝐩𝐞𝐧𝐬 𝐍𝐞𝐱𝐭
Although our East Livingston clinic is closing, SOS of Ohio is not disappearing.
Our remaining team will continue providing emergency, medical, wellness, and surgical care for the dogs of the Franklin County Dog Shelter & Adoption Center.
As staffing permits, we hope to continue offering surgical and wellness services for our rescue partners.
When grant funding or charitable support allows us to host public clinics or special events, those opportunities will be announced on our website and social media.
𝐖𝐞𝐥𝐥𝐧𝐞𝐬𝐬 𝐖𝐞𝐝𝐧𝐞𝐬𝐝𝐚𝐲 𝐂𝐥𝐢𝐧𝐢𝐜𝐬
The following Wellness Wednesday clinics will still be offered in 2026:
• August 5
• August 19
• September 16
• September 30
• October 28
• November 11
• December 9
These clinics will be staffed by Ohio State University fourth-year veterinary students working alongside SOS veterinarians.
Appointments become available approximately three weeks before each clinic date and may be scheduled through our website.
We will also continue hosting Columbus State Community College Veterinary Technology students during their Friday clinical spay/neuter rotations, allowing us to continue serving rescue organizations while helping educate the next generation of veterinary professionals.
𝐓𝐡𝐚𝐧𝐤 𝐘𝐨𝐮!
There are no words that adequately express our gratitude.
To every family who trusted us with your beloved pet.
To every rescue that partnered with us.
To every donor who believed in our mission.
To every volunteer who gave their time.
And to every staff member who dedicated their heart, talent, and compassion to helping animals who had nowhere else to turn—
Thank you.
Although this chapter is ending, our commitment to animal welfare remains unchanged.
We hope this announcement also serves as a reminder that the challenges facing veterinary medicine are real. Communities across the country are losing access to affordable veterinary care, not because the need has diminished, but because providing that care has become increasingly difficult.
We remain hopeful that one day solutions will emerge that make nonprofit veterinary medicine sustainable again.
Until then, thank you for allowing SOS of Ohio to serve this community. It has been one of the greatest honors of our lives.
