Kira loves to lie around. The Domestic Shorthair came to live with Newcastle couple Madaline and Josh five years ago as emotional support, but quickly found her own niche – all around the house.  

“We adopted her when she was six weeks old,” Madaline says. “She’s very loving.” 

From lazy breakfasts to sitting on the windowsill waiting for dinner and curling up in her owners’ laps at night, Kira fills a child-sized gap in Madaline and Josh’s lives.   

But their tranquil existence as a family was shaken by a grim discovery. 

“She was starting to not eat as much, and we noticed her two front teeth were broken,” Madaline says. 

The couple assumed their cat had had a fall. 

“Since we didn’t know exactly what had happened or when, we went to the vet.” 

Instantly, the vet at New Lambton vet clinic could see that Kira’s teeth had cracked and her gum was infected. 

“Because she wasn’t eating, they immediately suggested surgery,” Madaline recalls. The procedure was set to cost $2,693.40, a price beyond the couple’s means at that point in time. 

“We expressed that we wouldn’t be able to afford that, and we’d have to just move on.” 

The vet had a better idea. New Lambton clinic is a proud supporter of PetSafetyNet, a free 24-hour vet telehealth service complemented with subsidsed urgent in-clinic care. The vet could see Madaline and Josh were likely eligible, and encouraged them to access the service. 

“We were approved pretty much instantly,” she says. 

“We were over the moon, we just never thought something like that would be possible. 

Co-built with VetPartners, VetChat and the Animal Referral and Emergency Centre (AREC) PetSafetyNet aims to provide more equitable access to veterinary care by helping remove existing barriers for Australians facing hardship.  Currently operating in the NSW Central Coast, Newcastle and Hunter regions, PetSafetyNet has so far supported over 190 pets and provided financial assistance worth more than $157,000. Telehealth services are delivered through VetChat, with in-clinic care provided through participating VetPartner clinics and out of hours emergency care at AREC. 

Within two weeks of being approved, Kira’s procedure was complete. Ultimately, the entire cost of the surgery was subsidised by PetSafetyNet, including ongoing support. 

Since then, Kira is on the mend. 

“She’s finally eating breakfast and dinner again,” Madaline says. “It’s been a long time since she’s eaten so easily.” 

PetSafetyNet is calling on Central Coast and Hunter region pet carers who may be experiencing financial hardship, receiving Centrelink benefits and require access to urgent veterinary care for a sick dog or cat to visit the PetSafetyNet website to check their eligibility and access the service. 

“I can 100 percent recommend the service,” Madaline says. “We had no fallback plan, no other way of helping our pet.” 

While Kira is back to comfortably lying around the house, Madaline says PetSafetyNet completely lived up to its name when it mattered most.  

“Ever since her procedure she’s improved so much. And for me, it’s such a relief to know my baby isn’t in pain anymore.” 

Visit petsafetynet.com.au to learn more.