Surrounded By Flood Water, Fredericton Vet Delivers Life-Saving Care For Area Pets
FREDERICTON – Valley Veterinary Hospital on Lincoln Road found themselves surrounded by more than 20 centimetres of water this week, but that didn’t stop them from providing life-saving medical care to its furry clients.
The St. John River hit flood stage in Fredericton on April 20 and continued to rise even surpassing last year’s peak which was 8.31 metres.
Dr. Rhonda Stone said this year, unlike last year, was easier to prepare for.
“We kept going,” she said.
“We wore our rubber boots, walked through the water, and told all of our clients that were coming and warned everybody that there was water in the driveway.”
Martha McClellan was one of those clients.
Her dog Pepper needed life-saving seizure medication as he was about to run out.
Pepper, an 11-year-old American Cocker Spaniel, developed a seizure disorder a few years ago and has been going to Valley Vet for years.
“I knew they’d probably be accommodating and prepared,” McClellan said. “I was nervous about how much time I’d have to get there.”
McClellan and her husband even brought hip waders to get through the floodwaters.
She said she’s grateful for the hospital willingness to stay open despite the challenges it faced.
One of those challenges was the lack of plumbing.
Stone said they had to bring handwashing stations and port-a-potties for staff and human clients. She said despite the challenges everyone is in a good mood.
“There was enough stuff going on that we were able to stay in good spirits,” she said.
The hospital is still under threat as the floodwaters begin to recede but Stone said they will continue to operate.
“We feel loved and that positivity makes us really happy and want to do the things we do,” Stone said.
Nathalie Sturgeon is a freelance journalist in Fredericton.