Our heart goes out to our community with the deepest sympathy for those who have been caught in the warpath of Cyclone Gabrielle. We know that many of you are under immense strain and some have suffered significant loss, we want you to know that we are here to help and will do everything we can to support the response and recovery efforts.
All of the clinics are open and we have veterinarians available to provide emergency veterinary care for pets, horses, and livestock.
- Vet Services Waipukurau is open and operational, but without water. Most products and services are available, but we are unable to offer routine surgery or grooming at this time.
- Vet Services Hastings is up and running. We are working hard to get supplies and as required vets out to those who have been cut off.
- Vet Services Napier is still without power and at present we cannot expect to be able to provide a normal service for you, but we can do what is necessary to assist with any animal welfare issues.
Emergency Response
If you do not have access to main roads and need supplies please get in touch. We are working in conjunction with a number of emergency response teams including MPI and the Massey Veterinary emergency response team. We are also in contact with a number of helicopter operators who are helping ferry animal health supplies, medicine, groceries, fuel, food and water for stock and in some cases our vets to support to those with very limited or no access.
Lost animals
Displaced animals are being housed in a number of temporary animal shelters with veterinary support across the region.
MPI are coordinating animal welfare efforts. If you need animals moved to temporary accommodation please email or call 04 894 0132.
If you have pets or horses missing please list it on www.lostpet.co.nz.
First Aid Advice
If your animals have been exposed to flood water, it is important to check them for wounds and injuries, signs of hypothermia (cold limbs and dopy responses), and for harsh sounds when they breathe.
They may be very dehydrated so it’s vital to provide them with clean water and if possible, some food.
If your animal is wounded or is not strong enough to eat or drink, please call us immediately. We will do our best to assist you.
Deceased Farm Livestock
The Hawke’s Bay Regional Council is leading the disposal of dead livestock and is receiving and coordinating calls for collection and disposal.
If already on farm, farmers may be able to bury their own dead livestock as per normal conditions:
- Consider proximity to waterways (burial should be more than 50m from a waterway)
- Consider usual pest/vermin control
If not on farm, or there are too many animals on the property for the landowner to deal with, please phone the Hawke’s Bay Regional Council on 06 835 9200 or 0800 108 838. The Council will coordinate collection and appropriate disposal.
Product availability
Our retail team are working with suppliers and couriers to ensure we have adequate supplies of animal health medicine and supplies. We are working hard to plug gaps in our product range to have everything we need to cover all of your animal health needs, one way or another. We’ll talk through those with you (or your community comms person) and as always will have vets available to assist with your animal health planning.
We don’t underestimate how difficult the next few months will be for our communities and want you to know that the Vet Services team are available 24/7. Don’t be afraid to contact us if you need a hand, information or just a chat. Besides veterinary care we are happy to be a sounding board and to help coordinate with response teams anyway we can.
We are in this together.
Brendan James and the entire team at Vet Services Hawkes Bay.
Vet Services Hawke’s Bay | www.vshb.co.nz
