Vets on doorsteps of pet owners’ homes

A Wearside vets has issued a message of reassurance to pet owners left worried about the impact of care during the coronavirus crisis.

King’s Road Veterinary Practice in Southwick has taken steps so it can still carry out essential care for sick and injured animals and support their families during the initial three-week lockdown by the Government.

Owner and head vet Wendy

Rowntree has said she has taken a series of measures to keep staff safe as they support clients, including an online portal so they can seek advice and be prescribed medicine for their animal, with consultations being carried out remotely.

It has a team on hand to deal with urgent and emergency cases, with a mobile clinic so it can get to patients belonging to elderly or vulnerable people with sick animals. The call-outs have seen animals treated on the doorsteps, keeping to the rule of keeping 6ft away from members of the household.

Any pets which need hospitalisation or surgery will be transported to and from the practice.

However, it has had to postpone routine appointments and planned operations for the foreseeable future.

A spokesperson for the business said: “If any of our clients are concerned about their pet, even though the majority of us now have to work from home, we will still be here for them to the best of our abilities.

“We hope all our clients stay safe and well through this difficult time.”

The practice is posting regular updates on its website and Facebook page.