GEORGE NEWS - Veterinary care will be available for pets during lockdown. It will however mostly be for emergencies.
According to local veterinarian Dr Brendan Tindall, who is a board member of both the South African Veterinary Association (Sava) and the South African Veterinary Council (SAVC), veterinary services are considered essential.
"This is restricted to essential services. Elective procedures should be delayed until a later date," he said.
In addition to this, veterinary practices have been requested to reduce numbers to skeleton staff and let unnecessary staff stay at home.
"This will at least allow us to manage all the essential requirements of our clients and continue operating in the best interests of our patients. Essential veterinary supplies will continue to be delivered to practices and will be available during this time," said Tindall.
Should your pet be ill or injured, please contact your veterinarian immediately for necessary arrangements. They should also be contacted in advance regarding chronic medicine and food.
* George Herald is in contact with Sava and will notify readers of any new developments that may arise over the next few weeks.
Guidelines to follow when your pet needs medical care:
• If you are sick or have been in contact with an infected person, please advise your vet immediately.
• Phone your vet in advance for an appointment (and keep the appointment). Avoid walk-ins without prior arrangement.
• Try and keep your visits to the practice to a minimum and try to limit the time you are in the practice.
• Use the hand sanitisers provided on arrival and when leaving. This is for everyone's safety.
• Some practises have adjusted their appointment schedule to minimise contact with people.
• Please allow one person per patient. Friends or family should not accompany you.
• Phone your vet on arrival to find out whether you are allowed to enter.
• No eating or drinking in the premises.
• Pay with cards rather than cash.
• Please e-mail or phone with enquiries rather than "popping in" to the clinic to chat.
• Phone in advance for drug or food collections, chronic medications and prescriptions.
• Avoid visiting your pet when admitted to animal hospitals.
Getting adopted animals to their new homes before lockdown has become priority at the SPCA this week. Here Jessica the boerboel is on her way to her forever home.
Animal welfare centres
Animal welfare centres in George are not closing their doors. According to People's Dispensary for Sick Animals (PDSA) administrator, Moira Gibbs, they will be open during lockdown from Monday to Sunday from 09:00 - 11:00 daily for emergency treatment of sick or injured animals.
"There will be a vet on duty with a team of staff every day. We have cancelled all our elective surgeries during lockdown and will be open for emergencies and vaccinations if necessary," she said.
According to Oudtshoorn Dogs in Need (Odin) chairperson, Colleen Smith, they will be operating daily.
"Our staff will be staying on the premises to reduce travelling and contact with other people. I will be travelling from home to work daily. Due to the lockdown we have however lost most of our fundraisers and we are asking people who are working from home to support us by fostering a dog for the next three weeks. We usually have lots of people daily who come and play with our dogs, but that is not an option anymore with the lockdown."
Garden Route SPCA (GRSPCA) is carrying on with skeleton staff on the premises, but adoptions and dog walks have been cancelled for now. GRSPCA chairman Bruno MacDonald also requests that no one visit the SPCA unless they are dropping of donations.
"Animal welfare is, and always will be, the top priority of the GRSPCA. We are determined to help our communities' animals throughout the lockdown. However, we have had to halt our adoptions, and close our shops. This means we have very little money coming in and still need to feed and care for our animals and pay our staff," Macdonald said.
Inspectors and medical staff will be on duty during this time.
• There is currently no evidence that you can contract Covid-19 from your pets, so dropping them off at animal welfare centres for that reason is nothing short of irresponsible.
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