Just another roll-up.

With the demise of Slater and Gordon fresh in everyone's mind,  it shouldn't be too hard to see the similarities between Slater & Gordon and Greencross. However, history repeats and some fools never learn.

Have a look at this gem on their website - http://www.greencrosslimited.com.au/Your-Future/Selling-Your-Vet-Practice.aspx

Note 15 with Intangible Assets looks like a ticking time bomb to me. Sooner or later I am willing to bet there will be an impairment write down. That is some aggressive and optimistic accounting.

The whole vet industry is also one based on fear mongering and lies. by vested interests There is much more information available to people on the Internet these days. Some of these lies include:

- kibble as a "balanced" diet is on the way out as it's being replaced by raw feeding. However, the laziness of people is one advantage and pre-packaged frozen raw food is easy and convenient for the lazy pet owners so there may be a shift to raw food gradually over time. Not sure on the difference in margins.

- vaccinations are not required yearly (do we immunise people every year for the rest of their life). I got a puppy 5 weeks ago and had her vaccinated, but I will never vaccinate her again unless a titer test shows reason to. Nor will I treat her for heart worm every month (why treat something she doesn't have by feeding her poison?). Vaccinations came about once a year because the companies that developed the vaccines recommended they be done yearly! Studies have shown that vaccinations last for at least 7 years, if not for the rest of the dogs' lives.

- spaying/neutering your dog can actually increase their risk of cancer, I will not be having my puppy spayed. She's on heat for 4 weeks a year and I'll know when she's on heat so can easily avoid her getting pregnant. Also, the cons of desexing your dog young include the growth plates remaining open for longer, so they end up bigger and out of proportion than their body was designed for and this feeds to other injuries such as hip problems, etc.

- dental problems in dogs are largely avoided by giving your dogs raw meaty bones as they naturally clean their teeth and gums.

I plan to go see the vet once a year and have my dog's blood work done, possibly titer tested.

I went to a dog show last week and talked to some breeders. Despite all the jackets with kibble brand names on them, every breeder I spoke to feeds their dog a raw diet... and obviously they keep their dogs intact being in the business of breeding, but they also think there are many good reasons to leave them intact rather than desex them.

Petbarn is a great shop which is probably the cheapest place to go when it comes to toys, nail clippers, leashes, collars, etc. and is staffed by people who are genuine and passionate pet owners/lovers themselves. However, the veterinary side of the business which they are aggressively buying up on has many headwinds in the near future IMO.