VETERINARY clinics are still unclear if the movement control order, to begin tomorrow until March 31 to curb the Covid-19 spread, will apply to them.

Although the order mentions health care and pharmaceutical services as among essential services that will be allowed to remain open, it is not clear if this covers veterinary services.

There were long queues at the St Angel Animal Medical Centre in Puchong today, where concerned pet owners and animal rescuers stocked up on pet food, medicine and litter since the clinic and adjacent pet shop opened at 10am.

Animal rescuer Wan Syakirah Mohd Rasdi bought more than RM500 worth of cat and dog food this morning, in addition to the RM1,000 she spent yesterday on the same items.

“A lot of places, such as restaurants and offices, will be closed starting tomorrow. So, who is going the feed the stray cats and dogs?” said the travel agency owner.

“Someone has to think about them, too, as they also need to eat,” Syakirah told The Malaysian Insight as she loaded her car.

The 37-year-old said she wasn’t worried about herself as supermarkets would still be open but there was a lot of uncertainty about vets and pet shops.

Syakirah, who feeds strays with her sister-in-law in Seri Kembangan and Cyberjaya, said she had sent her office staff out to buy more than RM1,000 worth of pet food yesterday, before the government announced the movement restriction order.

These are for her 15 cats as well as the strays that she feeds.

In a special televised message last night, Prime Minister Muhyiddin Yassin announced a movement control order effective March 18-31.

The order includes the closure of all non-essential services. The essential services that are to remain open include water, electricity, telecommunications, post, transport, oil and gas, banking, health care, pharmacies, prisons, ports, airports, security, defence and food.

St Angel head veterinarian Dr Ding Chee Min, who has run the 24-hour vet clinic for almost 10 years, said the order was not clear with regard to veterinary clinics.

He said he is unsure if his clinic will be allowed to open tomorrow.

“There’s been no communication from the Department of Veterinary Services on this yet. 

“We are gonna test this out by staying open until midnight tonight,” said Dr Ding.

“We cannot completely shut down as there are animals here that require daily attention due to hospitalisation.

“In the worst-case scenario, we will have workers stay here and feed them,” he added, urging the government to clarify the matter for veterinary clinics.

The uncertainty has also troubled some pet owners who rushed to bring in sick or injured pets for a check-up.

A woman, who gave her name only as Ah Kiew, had left her 7-year-old cat in the animal hospital after it was injured in a fight.

“She has been hospitalised for the past 10 days as the wound was quite bad. 

“Now, I have to find out if I have to take her home or if I can still leave her here,” the 55-year-old hawker said.

“I hope vet clinics can stay open as I won’t know how to change my cat’s bandages every day.”

The National Security Council released a FAQ about 2pm this afternoon, 16 hours after Muhyiddin announced the movement control order, but it made no mention of whether veterinary clinics would be allowed to stay open. – March 17, 2020.