A Sarnia woman has launched a petition, aimed at restoring after hours veterinary service in the area.
Marg Allen said her dog, Bernie, died in her arms in December 2022, when she wasn't able to find a local vet to care for him.
She said her call was answered by a call centre based in North Bay, and they referred her to the closest operating clinic which was in Mississauga.
"The London clinics were closed," said Allen. "My boy was bleeding out and helplessly I cradled and comforted him for seven hours while he had strokes, seizures and laboured breathing. All I needed was a local vet to euthanize him, and no one was available."
Allen said there are 25 vets in Sarnia-Lambton, and they could work together to provide coverage between 5 p.m. and 9 a.m. Another option would be to equip vets with a pager or burner phone to respond to their own clients' emergency needs.
Copies of the petition can be found at Rawsome Dogs and Clean Cut K9 Dog and Cat Grooming.
Allen said over 300 people have signed the petition so far. She's also written a letter to the Ontario Veterinary College.
Former Sarnia Councillor Margaret Bird brought up the issue at a council meeting back in June of 2022. At the time, she said up until about three years ago there was a rotating after-hours service between all the vets in the county.
She called on Guelph University to remove its cap on veterinary student intakes.