Border Secret: Many Canadians Need to Seek Emergency Veterinary Care in Michigan

With a trade war brewing, tariff threats escalating and an unease leaning towards mistrust and dislike, relations between the United States and Canada have, perhaps, never felt chillier.

There is a potential secret sufferer in a cold war of words between the two nations - pets whose owners come from Canada seeking both routine and emergency veterinary care in Michigan.

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Many Canadians, particularly those close to Sault Ste Marie report they need to often cross the border to visit a vet.

The revelation came up on a community Reddit for the Soo region asking if anything has changed in terms of time or scrutiny when crossing the international border. While many reported that, no, there has been little change in general, several stories emerged about the need to cross the border seeking a Michigan-based vet.

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This story dealing with the loss of a pet and the kindness shows by border patrol agents from both nations is particularly striking:

We had to put our dog down in Kinross on Monday.. they were so good with us on both sides. Nothing to declare either side and both border officials apologized for our loss. So thankful for both men that day (especially since US one could’ve made a stink about not having her papers because it was an emergency and I couldn’t stop to find them). And no, we don’t have a vet on this side.

Why no vets available in Canada. Several others chimed in with stories and even further distances to travel.

We've also had to drive to Traverse City in the middle of the night for an emergency with our current dog. We also don't have a vet on the Canadian side. If one of the many vets here would take us we'd happily spend our dollars in Canada but unfortunately even after 3 years here, no vet will take us and now that we've been across the border, none will even take us for emergencies (hence the middle of night trip to Traverse City)

Pet owners in Ontario report of a shortage of veterinary care in the province citing a low number of acceptance into training programs and then higher paying, more appealing jobs available than setting up a local practice.

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