My heart was shattered on a Sunday night when my beloved pet duck, Puddleduck, died in my arms. She was egg-bound and in desperate need of medical attention, but there was nowhere to turn. I called every after-hours emergency veterinary service available, only to hear that none were equipped to handle avian emergencies. One hospital even admitted they had no specialists available and could only offer basic first aid. How many more pet owners must feel this grief?

This tragedy brought to my attention a glaring gap in veterinary services: after-hours emergency vet hospitals often lack trained specialists to handle avian and exotic animal emergencies. Birds, reptiles, and other non-traditional pets make up a significant portion of pets in Australian households, yet the resources to care for them during emergencies are grossly inadequate.

In Australia, birds are the third most popular household pet after cats and dogs, with approximately two million pet birds across the nation. However, according to the Australian Veterinary Association (AVA), there is a severe shortage of veterinarians trained in avian and exotic animal medicine, particularly in after-hours emergency settings. This imbalance leaves millions of pet owners in distress and vulnerable pets without the urgent care they need.

We are calling on the Australian veterinary industry, after-hours emergency hospitals, and relevant authorities to mandate the presence of specialists trained in avian and exotic animal healthcare at all emergency vet hospitals. Implement a certification program that ensures vets can receive specialized training in treating birds and other non-traditional pets. Increase funding and incentivize veterinary schools to offer programs focused on avian and exotic animal care.

This petition represents a desperate plea not to allow another family to experience the pain of losing a cherished pet due to a lack of accessible specialist care. With your signature, you become the voice for those who cannot speak. Let us collectively take a stand to ensure that all pets, regardless of species, have access to the life-saving care they deserve when they need it most.

Sign this petition to transform emergency vet services and safeguard the lives of beloved pets like Puddleduck.