Several central west communities without local veterinary services received a visit this month from the Animal Welfare League (AWL) NSW, which provided free health checks, vaccinations and microchipping for dogs and cats.

Housed in a huge, fully-fitted out B-Double trailer complete with operating facilities, an isolation room, an autoclave, fridge and over 35 recovery cages, the AWL’s mobile vet service rolled into Parkes on June 14, followed by Narromine on June 15 and Wellington on June 18.

The mobile unit – an Australian first – is on a three-year mission to visit rural NSW communities doing it tough to provide free vet services for companion animals, said Derek Thompson, AWL Mobile Vet Truck Coordinator and Veterinary Nurse.

A grant from the Department of Primary Industries (DPI) and charitable donations from the public make it possible for the AWL to carry out these visits from its base at Kemps Creek in western Sydney. The organisation sets aside a week each month for its staff to travel to nominated rural communities.

“We will visit 63 locations across NSW as part of this three-year program,” Mr Thompson said.

The Western Plains App spoke to Mr Thompson and his team during their visit to Narromine on June 15. A steady stream of locals gathered through the day at the Narromine Showgrounds, waiting patiently for their fur-babies to be examined by the visiting AWL vets.

The team examined countless dogs and cats during their visit, providing C3 vaccinations for dogs to prevent parvovirus, distemper and hepatitis, and F3 vaccinations for cats to prevent feline panleukopaenia, rhinotracheitis virus and calicivirus.

ABOVE: Narromine residents joined the queue to see the visiting vet service on June 15.

“It’s so good to get our animals checked, vaccinated and microchipped here. Trying to get in to see a Dubbo vet is a difficult experience,” Ms Harding said.

Narromine’s veterinary service has not operated for some time, leaving local residents to travel to Dubbo if their animals need to access veterinary care. It is a similar situation in many communities across the central west and beyond.

“We have a large elderly community and it’s not convenient for them to travel to Dubbo,” Ms Harding added.

Her thoughts were echoed by John Glenn, who bought his eight-week-old puppy Bella to the clinic. Bella was very well behaved as she was microchipped, vaccinated and given a clean bill of health by AWL vet staff Sandra Hartley and Shannon Hobday.

Ms Hobday said the steady stream of furry customers at Narromine was easily manageable. On a recent visit to Kempsey over 200 animals presented to the mobile clinic, she said.

ABOVE: Derek Thompson from AWL with Robert Handsaker and his mastiff, Manu.

Robert Handsaker brought his massive four-year-old Neopolitan mastiff, Manu - named after the famous French-born TV chef - along for a health check. The size of a Shetland pony, Manu waited patiently for his examination and was also very well behaved.

Mr Handsaker was another pet owner grateful for the AWL visit to Narromine.

“Since Narromine lost its vet practice, it’s left a big gap. This service helps fill that gap a little,” he said, indicating that not having to travel to Dubbo to access vet services would be a blessing for many older residents, in particular, at this time when cost of living pressures are being keenly felt by many.

Mr Thompson praised the assistance of the councils in Parkes, Narromine and Wellington for facilitating their visits. The AWL’s 25-metre-long B-Double trailer needs a reasonably-sized and safe space in which to park and set up to receive their furry clients.

The feedback from attendees at the mobile clinic had been overwhelmingly positive, he said.

“Obviously, with no vet in Narromine and Parkes for some time, this service is very helpful. The AWL relies heavily on charitable donations and support like the [DPI] grant, which have helped make this possible,” he said, pleased with the turnout.

“In some communities with a vet, they just can’t take on new clients. People may be waiting eight weeks or more to see a vet.”

For further information about the work of the AWL and its mobile vet service, visit its website.