Tyrol faces gaps in emergency veterinary care for pets

Tyrol has major gaps in overnight emergency veterinary care for pets outside the Innsbruck metropolitan area, ORF reported. One dog owner from East Tyrol recently had to drive to a veterinary clinic in Munich with a seriously injured dog.

There is rarely an emergency service for pets such as dogs and cats outside the Innsbruck area on weekday nights. At present, veterinarians provide the service voluntarily.

Tyrol’s veterinary director, Matthias Vill, said he could envisage making emergency duty compulsory. He is also considering a legal requirement for veterinarians to participate in weekday emergency services.

The Tyrol Veterinary Chamber has taken a cautious position. Its president, Bernd Hradecky, said the situation called for a round-table meeting involving political representatives, animal welfare organisations and veterinarians.

“That would of course be desirable, and we will certainly organise it in the near future,” Hradecky said.

ORF reported that a solution will be needed soon so that dog owners do not have to drive from Lienz to Munich at night in an emergency because no emergency care is available in Tyrol.