In early 2024, staffing pressures were mounting across VCA Animal Hospitals’ network. With over 1,000 hospitals across the U.S. and Canada, teams were struggling to keep up with growing patient demand. While the brand was trusted by millions of pet owners, internally, there was a different story unfolding: too many open roles, too few qualified candidates, and not enough time.

Veterinary technicians were stretched thin. Critical care departments were short on support. Burnout rates were rising, and turnover across frontline roles hovered near 30%.

As patient volumes spiked in some regions and dipped in others, hospital managers faced an exhausting cycle of last-minute hiring, overtime shifts, and understaffed teams. Filling even routine roles often took over a month, and emergency departments were frequently left without coverage.

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The Wake-Up Call

The staffing challenges weren’t just affecting operations—they were impacting patient care.

• Surgeries had to be rescheduled due to lack of surgical techs.

• Emergency cases experienced delays when support teams were incomplete.

• Staff morale dipped sharply, with internal satisfaction surveys averaging just 6.1 out of 10 in high-volume locations.

VCA needed a dependable staffing partner that understood the urgency, complexity, and specialization of veterinary hiring.

That’s when they turned to Pulivarthi Group.

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Our Approach: Reliable, Responsive Staffing Support

Pulivarthi Group got to work immediately by focusing on what we do best: delivering pre-vetted, highly qualified veterinary professionals exactly where and when they were needed.

Within weeks of onboarding:

• We activated our existing candidate pipeline of licensed DVMs, CVTs, and vet assistants.

• We coordinated quick-turnaround placements in hard-to-fill geographies.

• We worked closely with VCA’s internal recruiters to ensure cultural and clinical alignment for every hire.

We didn’t just fill roles—we helped restore balance.

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Key Positions Placed

In the first 6 months of our partnership, Pulivarthi Group successfully staffed 40+ positions across multiple locations, including:

• Associate Veterinarians

• Emergency & Critical Care Vets

• Certified Veterinary Technicians (CVTs, LVTs, RVTs)

• Anesthesia & Surgical Techs

• Radiology Technicians

• Veterinary Assistants

• Client Service Representatives

In every case, we prioritized candidates who could hit the ground running—licensed, experienced, and ready to support the high standards VCA is known for.

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Faster Hiring, Better Fit

Before partnering with Pulivarthi Group, time-to-fill for critical roles often exceeded 30 days.

With our streamlined approach, we brought that down to 14–18 days for most positions—cutting delays nearly in half and giving VCA’s HR team a more agile response model.

And it wasn’t just speed. VCA reported that 9 out of 10 placements were a strong clinical and cultural fit, minimizing early attrition and improving continuity across their care teams.

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Improving Retention, One Role at a Time

Although we weren’t involved in internal retention programs, our focus on quality candidate matching helped VCA reduce turnover in the locations we supported.

• Turnover in those hospitals dropped by approximately 20% over six months.

• Employee satisfaction scores rose by 22%, particularly among teams who finally felt supported by fully staffed shifts.

• Average tenure in those units began to trend upward—from 1.6 years to just over 2 years.

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Strengthening the Talent Pipeline

To support VCA’s long-term hiring goals, Pulivarthi Group also expanded candidate outreach through:

• Targeted sourcing in rural and underserved regions

• Reactivation of qualified candidates who had paused their job search

• Strategic referrals from professionals already placed within VCA clinics

As a result:

• 5 rural clinics were staffed through our extended outreach efforts

• 22 candidates were placed through referrals from past hires

• 8 semi-retired vets rejoined the workforce in flexible, part-time roles

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What Success Looked Like

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What VCA Has to Say

“Partnering with Pulivarthi Group transformed how we manage our workforce. Their candidates are professional, reliable, and aligned with our culture. We’ve reduced costs, improved morale, and finally found a staffing partner who truly understands the veterinary space.”
— Lia Lay McDougal, Recruiting Coordinator, VCA Animal Hospitals

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Conclusion: A Partnership Built on Precision

VCA’s partnership with Pulivarthi Group wasn’t about bells and whistles. It was about getting the right people in the right place—fast.

With quality staffing, responsive support, and a shared commitment to excellent care, Pulivarthi helped VCA stabilize its workforce, reduce operational strain, and focus on what matters most: delivering exceptional care to every animal, every day.