A veterinary practice in Truro has come to Scilly’s rescue with an offer to help alleviate the Islands’ animal welfare crisis.
Kernow Vets is Cornwall’s first out-of-hours emergency treatment service ? and vets Sharon Cole and Helen Chapman-Green have kindly offered their expertise to Scilly until a permanent solution can be found.
‘I set up an emergency veterinary practice just on the outskirts of Truro last year, and to continually read of the plight of the Islanders and animals is horrendous,? Practice Manager Helen Chapman-Green told ScillyNews.
The pair propose to visit the Islands one day a week ? probably Wednesday ? on a regular basis to treat patients.
They will need accommodation to set up a small animal surgery for minor operations and consultations, while more complex treatment will be carried out on the mainland.
The practice has a fully-equipped animal abmulance to collect pets off the Skybus or helicopter.
‘We could transport a sick pet over to the mainland, then pick it up by our ambulance and transport it up to our offices for treatment and hospitilisation,? said Helen.
Helen said she had contacted Scilly’s MP Andrew George outlining the offer, but will need funding for transport at least in order to make the proposal viable.
‘I?ve mentioned it to Mr George. I?m hoping Defra could assist,? she said.
Senior vet Sharon Cole hopes that they can find a responsible local who could hold a stock of drugs. ‘So after a phone consultation the pet owner can get the appropriate medicine locally and therefore quickly,? she explained.
But she pointed out the practice would only be for pets: ‘We have no expertise with larger animals nor do we have the facilities. I could probably manage a horse but I haven’t touched a cow for years!?
She told ScillyNews there had been a call from the Islands last week for a dog with a collpased lung - which amply illustrated the problems caused by the absence of a resident vet.
“It had air whistling out of its chest,? she said. ‘It was in a lot of pain and the only way to get Pethadine quickly was to call the hospital and try to get one of the doctors to prescribe some.?
Hardly an ideal solution ? and hopefully one that may soon no longer be necessary. Kernow Vets will be talking to the Islands’ campaigners over the next few days to get the project off the ground.
Fears about animal welfare after the departure of the Islands’ vet have deepened following the recent deaths of several pets, including a meerkat and snowy owl.
Former vet Dr Malcolm Martland, who handed over his practice to Rick Barrowman five years ago due to Multiple Sclerosis, has been providing much-needed help since July.
“Helen’s like a rottweiler when she get’s the bit between her teeth,” Sharon told us. “We’re determined that Scilly will have a vet.”
No doubt anxious Islanders will be delighted to hear it.