Things are moving on the pet side, with all kinds of new initiatives seeking to make a difference on a daily basis: pet therapy program in CHSLDs, outpouring of solidarity to save a threatened shelter, foundation of a virtual veterinary clinic. Overview.
Posted yesterday at 1:00 p.m.
Your dog could become Dr Cuddly
PHOTO DAVID BOILY, LA PRESSE ARCHIVES
Selected and trained citizen dogs will be able to work in certain CHSLDs.
Is your dog a kissing machine? Perhaps he will have the opportunity to join the brand new cuddle squad working with CHSLD residents. A unique zootherapeutic intervention program, launched in 15 establishments in eastern Montreal, offers citizens accompanied by their dog the opportunity to visit seniors on site, after selection and training. The selected dog handler duos, both members of which must be sociable, follow teaching and orientation sessions, then undertake to make at least two monthly visits to a CHSLD for a minimum of six months. With the obvious objective of bringing comfort, joy and social connections to residents. The program is a real success, since the cuddle squad is currently complete. However, the next round of registrations will take place in January.
Visit the CHSLD de l’Est Cuddle Squad page
Abandoned pugs looking for new nest
PHOTO ZA’RIANE, PHOTO TAKEN FROM THE CARLINS QUÉBEC FOUNDATION FACEBOOK PAGE
Stéphanie Lalancette, director of Fondation Carlins Québec
After a decade of activity during which 330 pug dogs (commonly called pugs) were placed for adoption, a specialized shelter located in Lambton, in Estrie, finds itself up against the wall. The building where the small animals, massively abandoned in Quebec, are collected, will be taken over at the beginning of January by its owner, who had previously made it available free of charge to the Fondation Carlins organization until then.
Refusing to give up, founder Stéphanie Lalancette is actively seeking to relocate the shelter, even if it means changing regions. She was able to count on an immense outpouring of solidarity from the public, punctuated by benefit activities and support of all kinds, making it possible to raise funds to acquire new housing. The finish line has not been crossed, but the specter of a definitive closure is starting to recede.
Visit the organization’s Facebook page
A first for veterinary telemedicine
PHOTO TAKEN FROM NEOVET’S FACEBOOK PAGE
Luis-Manuel Vacaflor and Florence Deschênes launched the first virtual veterinary clinic in Quebec.
A duo of veterinarians, Luis-Manuel Vacaflor and Florence Deschênes, recently inaugurated a virtual clinic for pets. Intended to make the lives of cat and dog owners easier, Neovet offers remote consultations for non-urgent cases, in order to respond to the concerns of its customers regarding the health of their companions, to make diagnoses and to offer treatments and prescriptions, if necessary. Nutrition or behavioral advice can also be provided.
If samples are necessary, technicians could come to your home to take them (depending on the region) or they could be carried out in partnership with affiliated clinics. Triage is carried out ahead of consultations to determine whether a virtual appointment is appropriate for the case presented – sometimes, an in-person visit may be necessary.
The new virtual clinic aims to make it easier and more fluid to make veterinary appointments, which can sometimes take a long time to obtain, with extended time slots. The consultation fee displayed is $85.
Visit the clinic website
