I am writing this petition to urge pet lovers in Bexhill to insist on one of the FIVE veterinary clinics in our town to provide an emergency clinic. 

I write this through the grief of losing my beloved cat, Rocky; a faithful companion for the last 11 years - he was a gift from the Cat Distribution System, he appeared on our doorstep in a sorry state but soon made himself at home. He was cuddly, loud, bossy and a joy to have in our lives.

In late June, Rocky endured a week of a mystery illness and countless vet visits, including an initial visit to the emergency clinic on the 27th June late at night. On July 4th at 1am Rocky suffered a large seizure and we made the absolutely heartbreaking call to have him put to sleep. It was a devastating decision that many pet owners know too well, a final act of love for our animals. 

After a quick phone call to VetsNow, the company that holds a large grasp on emergency vet clinics in England, we made the drive. It took 25 minutes to get from Bexhill to Eastbourne town centre and in that time Rocky suffered continuous seizures. It was extremely distressing to witness him in this state, something I cannot get out of my head. 

Once there, the vets were kind and quick with their actions and we were able to say goodbye peacefully. I will miss him forever but I will fight for this cause in his name. 

The vet on duty at VetsNow mentioned that they see a large number of animals who do not make it in time due to the long distance they have to travel, something that is very distressing for the staff who are all animal lovers themselves.

Having lived in Bexhill for over 30 years and owned pets the entire time, I know that we used to have multiple 24/7 veterinary clinics in our town and now we have none - despite having five veterinary clinics; Happy Tails Vets, Broad Oak Vets, Claremont Vets, Go Pet and Sussex Coast Vets.

Senlac Vets in Battle also used to host a 24/7 clinic and even used to do emergency home calls (in 2021 they came out to our house at 3am to put our dog to sleep in an emergency) but they no longer provide these services, not even overnight care for animals that require it.

Not only do we have to suffer the gruelling journey with our suffering pets, VetsNow charge an extortionate fee of £350 just to get in the door of their emergency clinic and whilst that is a separate issue to tackle, the new changes by the Competition and Markets Authority do very little to help with the outrageous ever-growing charges affiliated with veterinary care.

Every second is critical in an emergency and pet owners should not have to make a long journey to get the necessary care for their animals when there are multiple clinics within Bexhill that are capable of providing emergency care. The current lack of a nearby emergency facility only prolongs the suffering of sick or injured pets but is leading to potentially preventable losses. An emergency veterinary clinic within the town could provide life-saving services 24/7, offering swift, expert intervention during those critical minutes when a pet's life hangs in the balance.

The establishment of a local emergency veterinary clinic is a necessity for our community, a town full of pet lovers. It would mean fewer heartbreaks like mine, and fewer pet owners watching their companions suffer without nearby help.

Support this petition to bring attention to this crucial need. Let us stand together to urge local authorities and veterinary care providers to act promptly in setting up an emergency veterinary clinic in Bexhill. Every signature brings us closer to ensuring our furry family members receive the urgent care they need, right when they need it.

Please sign this petition to demand the immediate establishment of an emergency veterinary clinic in Bexhill. Your support could save lives.