Animal medical emergencies have a way of happening at the most inopportune times -usually the middle of the night (when all but a handful of veterinarian hospitals are closed) or rush hour (when it’s impossible to catch a cab). This may be the city that never sleeps, but too often, critically ill or injured pets have died before reaching medical attention.
Now a clever entrepreneur has created a 24-hour ambulance service just for pets.
Ambuvet is the brainchild of Don Montes, a licensed veterinary technician.
“We definitely saw there was a need for an EMT service for animals in the city,” says Montes, who previously worked at St. Marks Veterinary Hospital in the East Village. There, he recalls, “We’d get people calling at 3 a.m., saying their dog was having respiratory problems, but the dog was too big for them to lift.”
Six months ago, he and business partner Ivan Fraticelli launched Ambuvet. Just like a regular ambulance, Ambuvet is equipped with stretchers and lifesaving equipment. Drivers are licensed veterinary technicians, experienced with handling four-legged emergencies.
That means that, during the nerve-wracking drive to the hospital, pet owners -who come along for the ride -needn’t panic, because their pets are already in good hands.
“We have oxygen, bandages, splints, activated charcoal for poison victims, glucose for hypoglycemic animals and lactated ringers so we can supply subcutaneous fluid for support during transport,” Montes explains. “We’re a full-fledged, working ambulance service for these little guys.”
All that equipment and expertise on board Ambuvet can mean the difference between life and death.
“We picked up a cat who had a history of asthma,” Montes remembers. “The owner had called us saying her cat was breathing with her mouth open -a definite cause for concern in a cat. We were in the vicinity, so we were able to show up within 10 minutes of getting the call. We placed the cat on oxygen, and she did a lot better; in transport, her breathing actually improved.”
During the trip, Ambuvet’s technicians also gather information on the patient’s condition; those vitals are then relayed quickly to the vet, either by telephone or upon arrival. This “seamless service,” as Montes calls it, saves valuable time, as the hospital can often skip the initial examination and proceed with treatment.
“We call up the vet where we’re taking the animal and explain to them what they’ve got coming in, so they can have all the life-saving equipment ready when we show up,” Montes adds.
With the peace of mind Ambuvet provides pet owners and caregivers, it’s no wonder the phone has been ringing practically non-stop since Montes and Fraticelli started the business. And, Montes says, the plan is to expand. Ambuvet currently operates two emergency vehicles -Ford E350 super-duty vans, just like a “human” ambulance -but will be adding a third to the fleet before the end of the year.
That spells more happy endings for more of the city’s pets.
“We got a call about a large dog in The Bronx, a chocolate lab named Rex who’d been hit by a car,” Montes says. “This was 9:30 at night. We went up there and immediately put him on oxygen supplemented with subcutaneous fluids. We stabilized him for transport and took him to the Animal Medical Center [the 24-hour vet hospital on East 62nd Street].
“Today,” Montes adds, “after orthopedic surgery, Rex is still wagging his tail and shaking his rump down the streets of The Bronx!”
Ambuvet’s emergency services begin at $75; treatment or medication additional. Approximate wait time is 30 minutes, depending on hour and traffic. For more information, call 1-800-AMBUVET or log on to http://www.ambuvet.com.