THE JSPCA has decided to close its assisted vet clinic as it continues “juggling resources and costs” to meet the needs of the animals in its care.
Announcing the decision “with a heavy heart”, the charity cited “staff resourcing challenges” and “increased demand for in-house animal vet care services” as some of the factors involved.
The closure is due to take effect from 29 May, with the JSPCA contacting all affected clients directly to inform them of the change.
It comes at a busy time for the charity, which has seen an increase in wildlife being brought into care, alongside a rise in animals requiring more complex support including behavioural rehabilitation and ongoing medical treatment.
In a statement yesterday, it said: “Providing an external veterinary clinic, whilst not specifically in the JSPCA constitution, has been seen as a way for the charity to promote and protect animal welfare and has evolved over the past 25 years.”
It continued: “This decision has not been easy and has come about as a result of the increased demand for in house animal vet care services, as well as staff resourcing challenges.
“We will be closing our veterinary clinic to all external clients which includes all clients on income support, all assisted adoptions, and all old fosters.”
The JSPCA has a team of approximately 50 employees, including veterinary professionals, behaviourists, animal carers, reception staff, ambulance drivers and administrative teams.
The statement noted “an ongoing increase in demand across our veterinary services”, particularly in the number of wildlife cases – which “has continued to rise year on year”.
“We recognise there is a significant risk that this demand will continue to grow and
alongside current staff resourcing and funding challenges.
“It is with a heavy heart that we have decided to close the assisted veterinary clinic in order to responsibly manage the current demand and ensure we can continue to provide safe, timely and high quality care.”
Highlighting some of the support that will be available once the clinic closes, the charity stated that it would “continue to provide pets with medication via a prescription at a reduced rate” and would be offering “a referral service for one-off procedures which your pet may require”.
It acknowledged that the clinic’s closure “may come as a shock and disappointment to our clients, particularly at a time when individuals are facing increased financial pressures due to the rising cost of living”.
But it added that: “As a charity we are also juggling resources and costs to ensure we can deliver a service that meets the needs of the animals in our care and the team that are providing them.”
