Pet owners across the Isle of Wight say they are concerned about what the future holds following the announcement that The Mobile Vet will close ‘until further notice’ at the end of the week.
The popular veterinary practice on Watergate Road will close for an indefinite period from Friday, with customers only given a few days’ notice of this major change.
Those with pets registered with The Mobile Vet say they are struggling to find alternative options as it seems most local veterinary practices are not accepting new clients at this time.
It’s thought that the closure has been brought about because of a lack of specialist staff at a time when pet ownership has increased. The main issue surrounds out-of-hours care.
In a statement issued on the company’s website, The Mobile Vet has said:
“We are saddened to announce that The Mobile Vet in Newport will temporarily close on 7 October 2022 and will remain closed until further notice. We will provide an update on this situation via our practice website.
“We understand your need to seek alternative veterinary care during this time. Inline with our data protection policy we will hold a record of your pet’s clinical history. Should your new veterinary provider require a copy of your pet’s clinical records please contact us via [email protected].
“If you have a future appointment booked at The Mobile Vet, a team member will be contacting you shortly to discuss.
Article continues below this advertisement “We want to take this opportunity to thank you for supporting The Mobile Vet. Should you have any questions before our closure, please do not hesitate to contact us”.
No redundancies are being made with staff ‘redeployed’ to other practices.
It is hoped that the practice will re-open as soon as it is able to.
A petition has been created and can be signed at https://www.change.org/p/save-our-mobile-vets.
This practice should never have been sold out to a Corporate Company in the first place. To give notice to clients on Tuesday that the practice is closing on Friday is unforgivable. This is going to put huge pressure on the other Veterinary Practices on the Island. The company have shown no respect, commitment or loyalty to their clients or to the animals registered with this practice. Who is going to treat these pets ? The other practices will do their very best but they can’t do the impossible. Animals may well suffer due to this decision. Actions should have been taken long ago to prevent this closure ~ this is all about animal welfare and very, very concerned owners. Three days notice ?? This has been so badly handled.
I noticed in January that the practice had declined.,no actual Mobile Vet consultation if you were lucky at the premises
They should be ashamed of themselves giving such a lack of notice
The biggest problem is that at present almost (or all!) vet practices on the Island have been sold to corporate companies whose main interest is not looking after animals but making maximum profit. The previous owners are just as much to blame as the corporates as they well knew what the sale of their practice would mean to animals and their owners. Corporates aren’t paying the vets what they are due either, so many vets have turned their backs on the UK (if they are from aborad) or have left their profession.
I do think that the sector of corporates, not only with regard to vet practices, needs a very close review.
A few days, I got a text this afternoon and am absolutely disgusted by them.
Not surprised, from the response I got when phoning recently, just told me to go to another vet.
I’m really worried what will happen to our pets if they get poor. It’s impossible to find another vets that will take us on. I loved the fact they came to me if needed . Having nervous cats it worked so so well. And being disabled it saved a lot of stress . I really feel sorry for all pet owners this is effecting
And most of those vets that are taking appointments still have the most outdated hysterical Covid restrictions in place from the biggest plague (not) that mankind has ever seen.
Frankly I wouldn’t want my beloved dog seen by an ‘expert’ that still thinks a flimsy non-medical mask cures the world. Let go of the hysteria.
I have called 8 different vets across the island and none of them are taking on new patients, which is extremely worrying as my dog is on long-term medication. The Island Pet Centre Ryde who’s also closed their books advised they can prescribe medication, however as a non-registered patient we will get charged more. I am appalled by the Mobile Vets’ owners and their total disregard for their clients and their pets.