Tourists Seek Veterinary Assistance as Lilly the Cat Engages in Self-Inflicted Nighttime Torment

Tourists Seek Veterinary Assistance as Lilly the Cat Engages in Self-Inflicted Nighttime Torment

A Tale of Woe from Usedom: A Nightmare Vacation for Monika and Gero Voellmar

Usedom, that sunny island, a paradise for many, but not for Monika and Gero Voellmar. Their last two visits have turned into disasters, leaving them with a resounding "Never again Usedom!"

A Vet in the Dark

Two years ago, the couple from Berlin planned to celebrate Gero's birthday in style. They rented a cozy apartment in Bansin, but the celebration turned sour when their beloved cat, Lilly, fell ill a day before the big day.

"It was a terrifying night," recalls Gero, 61. He frantically called four numbers, trying to reach a vet. "Nobody picked up, but I left messages asking for a callback." While Monika attended to the ailing 12-year-old Lilly, who had inexplicably gone blind and suffered a stroke, Gero sought help from the local police in Heringsdorf.

"I had no other option," he admits. The police, initially at a loss, eventually managed to give Gero the number of the animal rescue service Vorpommern-Greifswald.

The Knight in Shining Car

Gero called the rescue service and was put through to a "really nice guy" who arrived promptly at 5:30 AM. Unfortunately, even he couldn't help Lilly, and their search for a vet continued in vain. But the rescuer had an ace up his sleeve. Nearby, there was a vet who he knew but wasn't listed as on-call duty online. The vet was able to alleviate Lilly's suffering a few hours later.

Gero has since shared his tale, rating the unresponsive vets online and receiving support from sympathetic animal lovers. He also contacted the administration, but the response was lackluster.

Ninety Minutes to the Vet

Since March 1, 2021, there has been a unified number at the state veterinary chamber. If you call, you will receive information about nearby vets who are on duty. However, travel times can reach up to 90 minutes, and there are concerns about incorrect reports of on-call duty and the number's reachability with certain mobile providers.

"Some vets also dismiss us right away and send us straight to the animal clinic in Neubrandenburg, Rostock, or Demmin," laments Klaus Kraft, chairman of the animal rescue service Vorpommern-Greifswald. The increase in patients at these clinics has led some pet owners to visit the emergency service for minor ailments, as it's closer than the vet.

"It used to be better regulated," says Kraft, recalling the vacationer with the cat. "I can't fathom why no vet was reachable at night back then. Maybe none were on duty on the island. We work well with the vets on the island, who are particularly in demand during the season. We get up to 200 calls a day, including many from vacationers who want to report their observations or need help."

A Tight Fit

Two years later, the couple returned to Bansin, hoping for a better experience. "This time, we opted for a small 40 square meter apartment," they say. However, upon arrival, they were in for a shock. The pictures online did not match the reality. A country-style kitchen, an XXL table, and an XXL sofa cramped the already tiny room. The agency's response to their complaint was less than satisfactory.

A Cold Welcome

The icing on the cake for this 14-day vacation was the heating and hot water system failure. "I complained immediately and was offered a paltry 15 euros compensation," Gero says. Reminiscing about Lilly and her unnecessary suffering, Gero did not even question the false photos online.

Back home, he informed the rental agency about the misleading photos. "But all I received was a rude response, as if to say, 'If you're not satisfied, don't come back. There are plenty of other tourists!' The photos are still on the site, by the way."

Emergency Service Fee and Contact Number

The veterinary emergency service for small and pet animals in Mecklenburg-Vorpommern can be reached at telephone number 01805 84 37 36. All veterinary services provided are charged at 2 to 4 times the rate of the fee schedule for veterinarians (GOT). In addition, animal owners must pay an emergency service fee of 59.50 euros. Telephone consultation with referral is also a chargeable veterinary service. Since you are usually not a known customer in the practice that offers the emergency service, you should expect to pay the treatment costs on the spot in cash or with a debit card. Emergency treatments on credit are rare.

1. Despite planning to celebrate a birthday in Bansin with a home in the 'home-and-garden' category, the couple's pet cat, Lilly, suffered from medical-conditions, leaving them struggling to find a vet in the middle of the night.
2. The frustration experienced by the couple in reaching out to vets during their vacation in Usedom has led Gero to wage a campaign in 'health-and-wellness' for pet owners, sharing his experience and rating the vets online.
3. The changes in the emergency veterinary service in Mecklenburg-Vorpommern since March 1, 2021, have had mixed reactions, with concerns about travel times, incorrect reports of on-call duty, and reachability with certain mobile providers in the 'travel' sector.

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