The Regional Animal Protection Society, which operates the RAPS Animal Hospital in Richmond, has sent an urgent letter to the B.C. government asking them to recognize veterinary care as an essential service.
RAPS’ CEO and executive director Eyal Lichtmann outlined his concerns in a letter to Premier John Horgan and senior members of his cabinet.
“As an organization and as individuals, we are all on board with the moves the provincial government has taken and continues to take to ensure British Columbians remains healthy,” said Lichtmann.
“As we see other provinces move to shut down all non-essential services, we are concerned about a similar move here that could harm animal and human health.”
Companion animals are “not at risk” from COVID-19,” said Lichtmann.
“There is no evidence that animals can contract or transmit the novel coronavirus. However, in addition to the basic necessity of providing needed veterinary care to animals in our community, the current crisis is evidence that vigilance is also needed to identify any zoonotic diseases that have the potential to cross-contaminate humans and animals.”
At a time when health systems and population health are placed at risk by the pandemic, Lichtmann said “it is essential that veterinary doctors continue to operate.
“This is a humanitarian matter for the animals and crucial for human health also because veterinarians are the first line of defence against zoonotic transmissions of other diseases.”
While the letter to the premier and cabinet ministers comes amid the current crisis, the underlying issue of recognizing veterinary care as an essential service has been discussed in the past, according to RAPS.
“The urgency was perhaps never there before,” said Lichtmann. “Now it is.”
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