A local veterinarian hopes measures put in place to address after-hours emergency care for animals will only be temporary.

Veterinary clinics across the Avalon have banded together to join a “tele-triage” service to fill in the gaps after the Veterinary Specialty Centre had to reduce its hours due to staff shortages.

Operators of that clinic says they are working to hire more staff and reinstate their 24/7 emergency coverage as soon as possible.

Dr. Maggie Brown-Bury says the hope is once that happens, all services will return to normal.

But, Brown-Bury says until the contracts are signed and the vets are in the building, they don’t know how long the current situation will continue.