THERE ARE many homeless pets roaming the streets of Kingston, but those with caring owners and comfortable homes can benefit from a roving veterinary clinic being introduced by Phoenix Veterinary Clinic.
A vet will make housecalls and take care of your pet's medical needs with regular examinations and shots, deworming and removing maggots.
"We now have a van and a full-time vet assigned, so all our clients can call us and book an appointment and we will visit them the next day. The more serious cases, we will have to take to the office, for example, if the pet needs to use our X-ray services," said Amanda Lopez, Phoenix's director of operations.
The house call service, which was introduced at the start of last month, will focus on Corporate Area clients initially, but the clinic is looking at expanding into other communities such as Port Antonio, Harbour View and Montego Bay. A Saturday clinic has already been introduced in Portmore, added Miss Lopez.
"There is a need for this service and we are responding to demand. Traffic is a problem; sometimes people get their cars messy and if, for example, they have four dogs, it might be a problem to get them to the vet, so convenience is the key," she said.
More Jamaicans, noted Miss Lopez, are taking care of their pets, as they see them as a source of security and companionship. However, she said this changing attitude depended on the market and socio-economic group of the pet owner.
