South Australian vet Dr Jenny Weston made sure pets received treatment during COVID-19 lockdown
Devoted South Australian vet Dr Jenny Weston was quick to make changes to ensure no pet went untreated during the COVID-19 lockdown.
SA News
Don't miss out on the headlines from SA News. Followed categories will be added to My News.
Jenny Gilroy has been taking her beloved pets to the Torrens Road Vet Clinic for more than 30 years and travels more than an hour each way to get there.
It’s no surprise then that the loyal pet owner nominated the clinic’s veterinarian, Dr Jenny Weston, in the Thanks a Million campaign for her devotion to animal companions throughout COVID-19.
Despite the country going into lockdown and self-distancing regulations making face-to-face consultations difficult, Dr Weston and her team quickly changed the way they operate to ensure their philosophy that no pet would go untreated.
But it wasn’t an easy task as veterinarians were not even considered essential workers until after the Australian Veterinary Association fought to have their members recognised.
The Torrens Road Vet Clinic set up an outdoor consultation area in a fenced off part of their property and would even consult with pet owners through a window in order to ensure correct social distancing.
“Once we were able to stay open we had to change absolutely everything we did and quickly,” Dr Weston said.
“We predominantly consulted in an outdoor fenced lawn area we created, so owners could stay with their pets during the consultation, otherwise we’d take the pets inside and the owners would stay outside. For a time, we even consulted through a window out to the carpark, with the pet inside and the owner outside so we could ask questions about the pets history.
“We did whatever we had to do.”
At the height of lockdown, Dr Weston and her team also ensured all their customers had what they needed for their pets by delivering food and medication to their homes.
“There was an unspoken mantra that we would not drop our standards and no pet would go untreated,” Dr Weston said.
“There were some particularly difficult times during COVID-19, like when owners couldn’t be together with pets when they were euthanised. But we always tried to reassure them they were getting the very best love and attention.
“I don’t think we did anything many other vets would have done, but it is nice when customers show their appreciation.”
Originally published as South Australian vet Dr Jenny Weston made sure pets received treatment during COVID-19 lockdown