Big business vets

[Desiderata]

Anyone here a vet?
Round about here (and apparently nationally too) all the little local vet practices have been bought up by "big corporate" and are now money spinners, charging twice what they used to.
What's the reason for this? And if there's that much money to be made, why don't the small guys just set up again and take the big boys on? Most people I know would rather work with someone local that they know and trust.

[Desiderata]

garythesign said:

I would like to thank Tim (The Vet) for his post. It is good to see this from a vet’s point of view.

Yes Tim, thanks for that, you've answered my original post very well.
Two of my friends have just "cashed in" on their practice in order to enjoy a very well deserved retirement, however they seem to agree with many of their former customers that the new service isn't as good. Maybe the new owners are just more realistic with regards to expectations and true costs.