Montclair Animal Hospital remains open to serve furry friends
The hospital is open Monday to Friday from 9am to 1pm and has put in place a strict protocol to ensure you’re your safety and theirs.
PET owners and animal lovers alike can rest assured their fur babies will be taken care of as Montclair Animal Hospital remains open as an essential service during the lockdown.
The hospital is open Monday to Friday from 9am to 1pm and has implemented a strict protocol to ensure your safety and theirs.
“The lockdown has been extremely challenging for us. We have two brave receptionists, Frances Roodman and Genevieve Lange, as well as two doctors and no other support staff. We have been given the directive to only treat emergencies and follow strict protocols. Another challenge is that it has been difficult to communicate with people through a mask and through a closed window but these are the lengths we must go to keep everyone safe.
“Animals don’t stop getting sick and we took an oath to do whatever it takes to protect and treat them. We are the guardians and custodians and we owe it to these voiceless creatures to give them our all. Our entire staff exudes passion for animals and we dedicate our lives to them,” said a determined Dr Yesh Govender of Montclair Animal Hospital.
With the widespread speculation and confusion regarding whether animals can carry and transmit the coronavirus, Dr Govender said that the virus is a disease that has been around in dogs for a very long time causing diarrhoea. “However, the Covid-19 strain has yet to be proven to cause illness despite the fact that it been isolated in the nostrils of two dogs in China. We are receiving new information every day,” he said.
The veterinary hospital has been serving the community of Montclair and surrounds for more than 40 years. Previously known as Montwood Park Vet, the practice has become synonymous with high quality veterinary care. “We have continued with that culture of excellence from the time we took over the practice in January 2011.”
The practice is run by both Dr Govender and his wife Dr Omashini Armoogum, who took over the reins from predecessor, Dr Gerry Retief in 2011 and has since served the people and animals Montclair as head vet. “I joined the practice later after working in welfare. From that point onwards we gave our all to the practice and expanded with new ideas and determination. We are proud of the institution it has become putting the needs of animals above all else,” he said.
The pair reside Westville with their two children and four dogs. Dr Omashini has a passion for surgery and Dr Govender a passion for medicine and it is their shared love for animals that brought them together.
The veterinary also works closely with animal welfare organisations such as Bark Angel and Yellowwood Park Montclair Animals (YMA). “We encourage everyone to bear a thought for these organisations that do so much good work for strays and abandoned animals and get so little thanks. Especially at this time that they need us now more than ever,” said Govender.
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