To mark World Veterinary Day today, the New Zealand Veterinary Association Te Pae Kīrehe (NZVA) wants animal owners to “Think P.E.T.”
NZVA said Kiwi vets were part of a vital workforce - from treating and caring for animals to working on the front lines of disease prevention to monitoring animal welfare and biosecurity.
The association’s chief executive, Kevin Bryant, said the veterinary workforce had a “huge role in our daily lives”.
This year’s theme, Veterinarians are Essential Health Workers, was “a great opportunity to let them know how much we value their work,” he said.
“Not only are they the people we call when our animals are unwell, but they help ensure the ongoing welfare of animals; they ensure the safety of our food chain; identify and research diseases that can be transferred from animals to humans; and help manage and prevent serious outbreaks.”