Large Consolidator Abruptly Closes Jersey Vet Practice, Blindsiding Customers and Staff

The Whiting Veterinary Clinic located in Whiting, New Jersey suddenly closed leaving Whiting and other area pet owners without a nearby medical facility for their pets according to Jersey Shore Online. The sudden closure of the clinic shocked and saddened staff and pet owners recently, leaving two staff members to dispense patient records.

The Whiting Veterinary Clinic is owned by Rarebreed Veterinary Partners (Rarebreed), a corporate consolidator, that operates approximately 111 veterinary practices in 11 states: CT(17), FL(1), MA(19), ME(20), NH(6), NJ(7), NY(15) PA(6), RI(2), VA(6), VT(2). Their network of hospitals include general practices, specialty ER hospitals, and urgent care clinics including PetMedic Urgent Care — company names of their Individual practice locations that are owned, operated and or controlled by Rarebreed are not displayed on their corporate-facing website.

According to Stacie Cullen Jankauskas, supervisor of Whiting Veterinary Clinic, NJ

  • “The rumors are true; we have been permanently shut down as of October 25. I was the supervisor of Whiting Vet. The entire staff at Whiting has been completely blindsided by this news as we all just found out during an emergency staff meeting from our corporate (owner).” she added, “We feel for our clients and patients in knowing that there is no other animal hospital close in the area.”

NOTICE OF HOSPITAL CLOSURE:

  • A sign was posted to the door of the clinic and a notice was displayed on the clinic’s website about the closure — the supervisor of Whiting Veterinary Clinic stated, “we did get a lot of backlash from our clients on social media because it was so abrupt and no e-mail or anything went out to them so I took it upon myself personally to make a Facebook to explain to them that this is something that the staff at Whiting Vet didn’t know was happening,” according to Jersey Shore Online.
    • NOTICE POSTED ON HOSPITAL’S WEBSITE: “ATTENTION: Whiting Veterinary Clinic is permanently closed, effective 10/25/2024. Existing clients, please contact us to request a copy of your medical records. We are grateful for the opportunities we’ve had to care for pets in this community.”

“Staff members believe this was a financial decision” for closing the veterinary hospital, according to Jersey Shore Online.

RELATED:

  • Jersey Vet Clinic Shuts Down Suddenly, Leaving Community and Staff Reeling (11.1.24)
    https://www.myvetcandy.com/blog/2024/11/1/jersey-vet-clinic-shuts-down-suddenly-leaving-community-and-staff-reeling

    • “In a shocking turn of events, Whiting Veterinary Clinic, the only animal hospital in the Whiting, NJ area, permanently closed on October 25. The abrupt shutdown has left the community of pet owners, including many seniors, searching for alternative care options, with some traveling out of town to access veterinary services.
  • Employee Reviews of Rarebreed Veterinary Partners
    • Reading company reviews at popular job websites about Rarebreed can provide greater insight into the company’s leadership, culture, work conditions and its priorities — GLASSDOOR | INDEED.

RECENT SUDDEN CLOSURES OF VETERINARY HOSPITALS:
Veterinary practices rarely abruptly close, providing little to no notice to their customers in veterinary medicine, due to its potential negative impacts to the health and welfare of animals under their care — large veterinary hospital groups can employ thousands of workers and may share resources including veterinarians from nearby hospitals from within their network in order to temporarily fill the position for a permanent veterinarian or if there is a shortage of workers.