Vets' association

Further to Gabriella Arrabito's letter (March 8) I would like to recount my own discouraging experience with the Malta Veterinary Association's "emergency" number.

A few months back my dog became suddenly unable to walk. I found him sprawled on the floor. I did not know what had happened to him, and I was hesitant to pick him up and put him in a car (to take him to a vet) for fear of possibly furthering any injuries he may have sustained. So I naïvely called the MVA's emergency number. After being charged Lm2, I was asked by the operator on the line what was wrong with my dog. I was told that a vet would come to check the dog.

Then the operator asked me where I lived. I told her Manikata. I was then abruptly told that I would, therefore, need to take my dog to the nearest vet! "Why?" I retorted, "because I live too far to be convenient for any vet?"

After hanging up I did some research as to who the director of the MVA was. I was told by the director that I was wronging the dog by not taking it to a vet, to which I answered that it's not good medical practice to pick up an animal who can't walk if you don't know the extent of the injuries.

I told him that to be charged Lm2 to be told to "take my dog to the nearest vet", and then be told that I was doing my dog an injustice, was shameful.

Last week I found a dog in Mgarr which had been hit by a car and didn't even bother with the emergency number. I just took the dog to the vet myself.