The service location is from Saratoga Springs in the northwest to Oasis in the southwest, with Middletown in the south, as well as the surrounding ranches and farms bordering those corridors. The center of the area is Clearlake, from which a veterinarian would have good access to serve all corners of the shortage area. Addressing the large animal veterinary shortage in Lake County is essential to maintaining a safe and secure food supply in California. The veterinarian's main objectives are to serve both the area's youth agriculture and extensively raised beef cattle industries. There are around 4000 beef cattle in the county, with lots of small backyard operations and remote cattle premises that require significant travel time. The veterinarian should also provide other large animal service support to the county shelter, which has been unable to respond to livestock emergency calls due to the lack of veterinarians specializing in food animal medicine. Lake County is truly a rural community and is recognized as one of the more economically disadvantaged areas in California. Lake County has a median household income of $53,399, far less than California’s overall median household income of $84,097. In an example of how rural the county is, Google Maps does not identify roads or directions in the northern part of the county at all. Currently, there is no overnight care for food animals available in the county, with only limited ambulatory services. Currently, veterinarians travel from neighboring counties to provide sporadic large animal services. Many county veterinarians are unable to accept new patients beyond their existing client lists. Additionally, producers in the area struggle access to large animal specialty care. In an emergency, owners are often left to transport their animals to UC Davis or Sonoma
This often-forgotten corner of California agriculture desperately needs veterinary services and husbandry advice for its remaining producers. The veterinarian would primarily serve beef cattle, performing typical duties of a food animal practitioner including but not limited to: pregnancy diagnosis, obstetrical difficulties, foreign animal disease surveillance, semen evaluation, trichomoniasis testing, and overall herd health practices (vaccination, castration, and regulatory testing requirements). Youth agricultural services would include vaccinations, preventative health, emergency and ill livestock calls, as well as being available for county fairs and educating 4-H clubs and FFA chapters regarding show biosecurity (the county has had issues with this in the past). Establishing a VCPR is critical, as most small producers in the area currently rely on infrequent consultations with less experienced small animal and equine vets who often find it especially difficult to visit the herd for herd health checks or emergency calls. Activities may include emergency services and development of treatment and vaccination protocols. The clinician will provide outreach to producers about implementation of on-farm management strategies to help maintain a safe food supply and reduce the risk of contamination of agricultural products from livestock-associated pathogens. A minimum of 50% service time must be dedicated to beef cattle and small ruminants, the must-serve species. The rest of the veterinarian’s service time can be allocated to agriculturally relevant livestock.
4-H representatives and Lake County Animal Care and Control (the main animal shelter in the county) have expressed their concerns about the lack of veterinary services, and tried to recruit help from neighboring counties, where there is a higher density of veterinarians, with mixed success. Due to the below-average income of the community, recruitment of new veterinarians presents a challenge. Currently, sporadic veterinary services are provided on an as-needed basis by small animal vets in the community or vets from out of town.
Maintaining adequate animal health vigilance in this rural county is extremely important to the entire state. There is a true need for continued veterinary services to maintain food safety and public health, as veterinarians are responsible for detecting emerging and foreign animal diseases. Without early detection by a veterinarian, disease could spread throughout the state and nation, therefore impacting much larger human and animal populations. With the current lack of veterinarians, many food animals are left untreated when ill and go without proper preventive care, such as vaccines and husbandry recommendations. Highway 20 runs east to west through Lake County and connects the main transit arteries of Highways 101 and 5, along which much of California’s intensive agriculture is situated. Many livestock haulers use this road as a shortcut, which results in heavy trailers susceptible to curvy roads coming through the county. In October 2023, a trailer hauling 79 head of cattle overturned on the highways, killing several animals. While rare, adequate veterinary services are required to respond to accidents of this magnitude. The county’s 4-H and FFA groups are also vulnerable to the lack of access to care, especially niche species like swine. Even though these groups are short-term producers, they often require involvement from a vet regarding preventive health, food safety, antimicrobial stewardship, and biosecurity. Without appropriate veterinary medical support, livestock in Lake County and beyond are at risk for health, welfare, and disease threats to both the predominant cattle industry, and all the smaller producers of may-serve species.
Sitting right above Napa County, Lake County hosts California’s largest freshwater lake. Clear Lake State Park offers ample opportunity for water sports—from swimming, fishing, boating, to water skiing or paddle boarding. Hike the peaks surrounding Mount Konocti for some of the region’s most breathtaking views. Lake County is well known for the opportunity to explore nature, with Clear Lake and Mendocino National Forest as prime recreational spots for camping, hiking, or horseback riding. Soak up the California sun and relax at one of the many wineries, take a walk down a historic main street and grab a bite to eat, or enjoy natural hot springs in the surrounding mountains. In Lake County, you’re just two hours from quaint north coast towns through redwood tree-lined roads. Rural living at its best, Lake County features a small community atmosphere and endless outdoor adventures. Property prices are relatively reasonable compared to other counties. Lake County is an ideal location for an outdoor enthusiast to own or even build a dream home, something that is out of reach in many other parts of the state.