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DETROIT – A Detroit woman is frustrated that Michigan veterinary clinics are still banned from pet owners after two of her dogs died within weeks.
Michigan state businesses have reopened, but many veterinary clinics are keeping pet parents out.
Bringing a sick pet to the vet can be scary for both pets and owners. To make matters worse, owners are not given access to veterinary practices during the pandonavirus pandemic (COVID-19).
Maureen Kearns of Detroit said it was important to reopen the doors to owners.
“We went from one to three (dogs) in a matter of weeks,” said Kearns.
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This summer Kearns had to lay down Lady Jane. Then her other greyhound, Noodle, was diagnosed with cancer.
“The doctor took an x-ray after they took it on their own,” said Kearns. “As soon as we got home, he really wouldn’t be walking on that leg anymore.”
She wasn’t allowed to go to the vet clinic with Noodle and believes the experience hastened his death.
“It was really traumatic to my dog,” said Kearns. “I mean, I can understand how to sit in the car until it’s time for you to come in. What I want to see is just that at least one pet parent can go in with the animal.”
In Michigan, veterinarians can decide whether pet owners can be admitted to their hospitals. Most of them have decided to drop them off at the roadside.
“If we get sick or employees get sick, we may be able to close a hospital and we already have such a lack of appointments,” said Melissa Owings, president of the Michigan Veterinary Medical Association.
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Owings said she supports the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention policies promoting roadside service to encourage social distancing.
“I think the CDC guidelines are excellent,” said Owings. “I think we, as veterinarians and health professionals, need to make sure that we use as much roadside use as possible.”
“Gyms are opening up,” said Kearns. “Now everything opens up. Now that we’re so far away and things are slowly opening up, it only makes sense to me that vets should be one of them. “
Owings said the vast majority of vets want pet parents back in hospitals, but safety is of the utmost importance during a pandemic.
“We have to be careful about directing our frustration on the people providing care rather than on the situation. The more we can do to prevent the spread, the faster we can get back, take clients to the hospital and have face-to-face contact, ”said Owings.
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Anyone with questions about a clinic’s policy should call ahead.
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