Roo has entered the Greater Toronto Area, with its veterinary staffing platform now being rolled out in Canada. The platform brings together veterinary clinics and professionals in search of locum positions. Additionally, it offers free continuing education for veterinary professionals in Canada. With Roo, veterinary clinics will be able to post shifts and recruit employees within the Greater Toronto Area. On the other hand, veterinarians and Registered Veterinary Technicians can find locum jobs that suit their schedules.
As a result, Canada is currently facing growing difficulties with its veterinary workforce. As per the Canadian Veterinary Medical Association, there could be approximately 5,000 veterinary job openings in the coming years, by 2031. However, there could be only about 4,000 job seekers.
This shortage adds more responsibilities to veterinary clinics. Clinics have to ensure that the capacity for appointments is sufficient and that they are able to cover vacations of their staff. In addition, they have to ensure that there is cover during parental leave and other types of absence while, at the same time, supporting teams and avoiding burnout.
Roo Expands Flexible Staffing Options for Veterinary Teams
Locum coverage is still challenging for a number of veterinary hospitals in Canada. The use of third parties such as agencies, referrals, and social networks is common for hospitals. Nonetheless, these means may cause difficulties in finding qualified professionals in time. With Roo, the problem will be solved through the use of an on-demand, self-service platform where veterinarians can find open shifts and qualified professionals without delay. Moreover, veterinarians and RVTs become capable of planning their own schedule. They can select appropriate shifts and workplaces, as well as look for openings according to dates, specialties, and salary.
“We’re bringing Roo to Canada to help veterinary professionals build flexible, fulfilling careers in an increasingly demanding industry,” said Danny Leffel, CEO of Roo. “Roo was built around flexibility. It gives veterinarians and technicians the opportunity to choose how and when they work, while giving veterinary hospitals a flexible way to access professionals when they need coverage. Our goal is to support the teams already caring for Canadian pets by helping clinics maintain capacity, meet demand, and reduce the risk of burnout.”
Veterinary hospitals are provided with free accounts with unlimited posting of shifts. There are no costs until they confirm that there is coverage. In addition, they can customize coverage and review a professional’s profile.
Veterinarians and RVTs are provided with a map showing available shifts. In addition, there are details regarding the pay and easy search options. They can use filters to select opportunities according to their schedule and needs. Once the professional finishes the shift, Roo pays them through electronic funds transfer within several days.
“After more than 12 years working as a locum vet, I’ve seen firsthand how much the right coverage can mean to a veterinary team, and how much flexibility can mean to the people doing the work,” said Dr. Marie Holowaychuk, DVM, Diplomate ACVECC, CE and Career Development speaker, and Founder of Reviving Veterinary Medicine. “Locum work has given me the freedom to build a career on my own terms, and I’m excited for Roo to bring that same flexibility and support to Canadian veterinarians and RVTs. At a time when our profession is facing so much pressure, giving people more choice and helping clinics get the support they need can make a real difference for teams and for the future of veterinary medicine.”
In addition, Roo offers Canadian veterinarians free RACE-approved continuing education. Roo will host a free continuing education event at the Toronto Zoo on September 27, 2026. This event will be organized in collaboration with CoVet and VetWise. At present, Roo caters to more than 30,000 veterinary professionals in the United States. Moreover, Roo partners with 10,000 hospitals. The platform has provided more than four million hours of coverage to date. With its presence in the Greater Toronto Area, Roo provides another staffing option to veterinary clinics in Canada.
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News Source: Businesswire
