KITCHENER –
The Ontario Veterinary College at the University of Guelph shall be shutting down its department that focuses on offering take care of birds and exotic animals in August. It’s a trigger for concern for individuals who rely upon its medical care.
Temara Brown, who owns The Brown’s Microsanctuary in Cambridge, depends on the avian and exotics service to take care of her rescued chickens, like Lizzie the hen.
“She did a CT scan, blood work and several specialists looking after her case,” mentioned Brown.
Lizzie is now on the mend, recovering after having a foot amputation surgical procedure three weeks in the past at the faculty.
“Without the hospital, I’m not sure if we would’ve been able to beat this infection and give her the help that she needs,” mentioned Brown.
The faculty has determined to cease this service by Aug. 6, leaving animal sanctuaries, wildlife rescues and pet homeowners with out another place to hunt care.
“We don’t have anywhere to go, that’s the scariest thing,” mentioned Brown. “It will mean a lot of anxiety, and the worst thing is knowing when someone is sick that you might not get them the help and medical [care they] need because there’s no option.”
CTV News reached out to the faculty for remark however nobody was obtainable for an interview. In an e-mail despatched to veterinary college students final week, the dean cited monetary constraints and staffing difficulties as the rationale for the closure.
The department doubles as a instructing heart for veterinary college students. They discover ways to deal with small mammals like rabbits, birds like parrots, and reptiles like turtles, underneath board licensed specialists.
“Where are they going to get the treatment and where are we going to receive that education?” requested Calli Freedman, a fourth-year veterinary pupil at the faculty. “If we don’t educate students on how to take care of these animals, we’re not going to have exotic vets available in the future.”
The deliberate closure has prompted Freedman and a few of her friends to start out a web based petition urging the faculty to rethink.
“There’s no other facility like this anywhere in Ontario,” mentioned Freedman.
So way over 19,000 individuals have signed the petition, together with Chantal Theijn, the founder of Hobbitstee Wildlife Refuge in Haldimand County. She mentioned the service is crucial for the exotic animals she cares for.
“If we cannot find veterinarians who are skilled enough to do the diagnostics and subsequent surgeries on some of the animals we have in care, that means animals would have to be euthanized,” mentioned Theijn.
As for Lizzie, Brown expects her to make a full restoration.