Vet services puts the bite into pet ownership

ANIMAL LOVERS go to the dogs come October 1, when the price of owning a pet becomes that much more expensive.

A bill set to be tabled in Parliament aims to better regulate the status of felines and canines littering the cityscape and to ensure those with owners are properly cared for.

With the new law, owners must have a medical file created for their pet with the government’s veterinary services, in addition to registering the animal with municipal authorities. The file creation will cost £5.

Moreover, from now on, pets will be identified by microchips rather than by collar tags or tattoos. Getting a microchip fitted on those cute critters is mandatory and will set you back by £15, but it’s all for a good cause. This service will be provided by private veterinarians.

Now to the unpleasant business: the legislation also purports to resolve the issue of strays.
Municipalities will be in charge of dog shelters, where animals will be kept for around 20 days while staff attempt to locate the owners. After that period of time, the animal will be put down.
Interestingly, the prices of veterinary services will be rising at roughly the same time, following an agreement recently reached by the profession’s association. And if you thought owning a pet was expensive, think again:

Under the new law, medical examinations must be held more frequently. Vaccines will shoot up to £15 from £10, while neutering a bitch might now cost as much as £70.

And it’s £40 if you want your male cat deprived of his reproductive abilities. Talk about a lose-lose situation.

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