Animal hospitals in Salisbury remain open to care for sick pets

SALISBURY, Md.- Aside from those suffering from COVID-19, people who get sick still need doctors during this pandemic, and the same goes for their pets.

“I think it’s extremely important that we be open and available for the animals, we are seeing a lot of sick patients, we’re seeing a variety of problems,” Stephanie Bystrak, Receptionist Manager at Healing Hands Animal Hospital, said.

That’s why Animal hospitals in Salisbury, like Healing Hands Animal Hospital and Johnson- Mckee Animal Hospital, are keeping their doors open.

“If we just stopped seeing everybody, during however long this lasts, I mean these animals could be in grave trouble,” Michael Peters, Johnson- Mckee Animal Hospital, said.

Animal care professionals said although people may be against taking their pet in during these uncertain times they caution that some things can’t wait.

“So, some of these things can really create a big problem if they go unnoticed or untreated for a length of time,” Bystrak said.

“It’s very important to stay on top of those things because medications change, we tweak that stuff constantly,” Peters said.

That’s why animal care facilities are continuing to stay open even if that means changing procedures.

“We’re not allowing clients to come inside the animal hospital, we’re offering a curbside service, they can call to check in, talk to a technician over the phone,” Bystrak said.

Just like other businesses during this time though, Johnson – Mckee said business is down, but that it won’t stop them from seeing their patients.

“Economically of course its impacted us, I mean there’s no question that we’re doing less than we did a year ago this time or a few months ago this time,” Peters said.

Under federal recommendations, animals hospitals have been told to postpone all routine and elective surgeries.

We are told that the response that the animal hospitals are getting about procedure changes is positive.