Fears about animal welfare after the departure of the Islands’ vet have deepened after the recent deaths of a meerkat and snowy owl.
Butcher Steve Griffin, from St Mary’s, has lost both pets - and is convinced they could have been saved if there was a vet on Scilly to treat them.
Meerkat Joein was injured in a fight or fall and flown to see a vet in Newquay. He was recovering on Scilly when he suffered a relapse on a foggy Saturday and died the following day.
Four-year-old snowy owl Chiquita contracted canker, a disease commonly associated with pigeons and doves, after eating a dove which died near her pen. The disease is treatable but kills within 48 hours without medication.
“The Newquay vet did his best but by the time the she got there and was put on a drip it was too late,” Steve told ScillyNews.
“It’s a ridiculous situation. I definitely know that both Chiquita and Joein would have survived if we still had a local vet.
‘Not only have I lost two animals but it’s cost me a fortune. As well as the vets fees, meerkats and especially owls are expensive to replace’.
Islanders have been lobbying Parliament for help since vet Rick Barrowman left the Islands at the end of July.