Starting next month, 24/7 emergency services will no longer be easily accessible at the Veterinary Specialty Centre in St. John’s.
And that’s not sitting well with pet owners.
Due to staff shortages, the clinic is shutting down their walk-in ER from 7 p.m. – 8 a.m.
Local veterinarian Dr. Maggie Brown Bury calls the news a bit of a setback for animal care in the province, since a 24/7 ICU has allowed them to save pets who needed immediate care.
(Photo: Veterinary Specialty Centre of Newfoundland and Labrador)
Pet owners will not be left completely high and dry, as it is mandatory to have a vet available on an on-call basis.
It’s said to be a temporary measure, but labour shortages at vet clinics are nothing new, according to Brown Bury.
She says emergency clinics especially struggle to find staff to cover late or overnight shifts.
The situation is even worse in rural parts of the island where getting a pet in for a check-up can take several months.
