Drama on Usedom: Tourists call for help for suffering cat!

Drama on Usedom: Tourists call for help for suffering cat!

An experience that can spoil your desire for a relaxing holiday: Monika and Gero Völlmar had to experience how difficult it can be to quickly get veterinary help for their cat Lilly in the Usedom holiday region. After two years of problems, the Völlmars have now made their story public and are receiving support from other shocked animal owners.

Two years ago, shortly before Gero's birthday, Lilly became acutely ill in Bansin. The desperate attempt to reach a vet failed - and not just once. “I called the police in Heringsdorf to get help,” said Gero. Ultimately he got the phone number of the Vorpommern-Greifswald animal rescue service, which sent an animal rescuer, but he couldn't reach a vet. It couldn't be worse: a veterinarian who wasn't listed on the internet was the only one who could put Lilly out of her suffering.

Difficult conditions for animal owners

Klaus Kraft, chairman of the Vorpommern-Greifswald animal rescue service, points out the challenging conditions. “It can take up to 90 minutes to reach a veterinarian,” Kraft said. In addition, there are often incorrect reports from on-call services and the emergency number is not always available. “In urgent cases, some veterinarians send injured animals directly to clinics instead of treating them themselves,” he adds.

The Völlmars dared to travel to Bansin again two years later. But this time too, everything didn't go smoothly: the rented 40 square meter apartment didn't correspond to the pictures shown on the Internet and was overcrowded with furniture. To make matters worse, the heating and hot water also failed during their stay. For all these inconveniences they received compensation of just 15 euros.

Emergency service policies and fees

For pet owners who want quick help in emergency situations, there is the central emergency service number 01805 84 37 36. This is provided by the Maack Veterinary Practice The office hours are Monday to Thursday from 8:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. In the event of an emergency that occurs outside of these times, pet owners must expect an emergency service fee of 59.50 euros. In addition, there are the treatment costs, which usually have to be paid on site.

Pet owners are advised to be aware of whether their situation is a true emergency. Signs of acute emergencies include shortness of breath, heavy bleeding or problems urinating, they said North Rhine State Veterinary Association.

Völlmars’ experiences illustrate the urgent need for reliable and quick veterinary help, especially in holiday regions. Pet owners should always have a plan for when and how to reach out for help to avoid ending up in a similar situation. After all, holidays shouldn't be marred by unexpected and stressful experiences.