San Marcos mayor wants 24-hour pet care

AUSTIN, Texas (KXAN) -- The infamous traffic stop, in which a San Marcos police officer made inappropriate comments, all started because the driver's dog Missy choked on her dog food.

Missy's owners were pulled over because they were going nearly 100 mph to get their three-pound dog to the closest emergency care center. That emergency center was located in New Braunfels, nearly 20 minutes away.

"This unfortunate incident brings to light the apparent lack of after-hour emergency veterinary care in San Marcos for pets who suffer a lifemthreatening emergency as Missy did," said San Marcos Mayor Susan Narvaiz, during a press conference on Thursday afternoon.

Since San Marcos has no 24-hour emergency veterinarian, the Mayor said she is working to change that. Narvaiz hopes what happened the morning of August 5th does not become an issue again.

"We are getting the veterinary professionals here in the area to talk about how we can provide that critical care closer to home," said Narvaiz.

Right now, San Marcos pet owners with emergencies in the middle of the night are forced to go to New Braunfels or even Austin.

"I would say that San Marcos would definitely benefit from [a24-hour vet], because we do have a lot of patients coming from there," said Dr. Nancy Callaway, with Austin Vet Care.

Dr. Nancy Callaway and her colleagues run a 24-hour emergency clinic in Central Austin.

"Most nights our overnight doctors are very busy, said Callaway. "They sometimes even have to call in additional doctors to help with the surgeries that happen overnight."

Dr. Callaway said Austin Pet Care began its 24-hour emergency clinic about five years ago and since then, it has been busy. She said some pet owners come as far away as Waco to get the care their pet needs in the middle of the night.

"Most people consider their pets their family members, and when your family member is hurt or sick, time is of the essence and every second counts," said Callaway.

The mayor said she understood this point, since she owns two dogs. An emergency pet care center like the one in Austin could save a pet's life. She hopes it will also prevent traffics stops like the one that has made national news.