From childhood, Marguerite Miranda has had a love for animals, including strays, a love that has blossomed into her Pet to the Vet Pet Ambulance service. Miranda, now 56, says: “Throughout my life I have had a passion for animals and knew that I had to create a service that would be meaningful to both animals and animal lovers.
“From a child I have always had dogs, cats and even squirrels; the love and compassion continuing into my adult age. I am one of those people who keeps a bag of dog food to give to strays along the road. I cook and feed 17 strays at the back of Aranguez currently, together with the nine I have at home, mostly rescues.”
She continued: “My friend who is a vet assistant for years, knowing my bond with animals, encouraged me to consider this business as there was a definite need. However, because of my previous job as a flight attendant, I would not have had the time to perform the professional service needed.
“After the closure of the airline, I went into pre-retirement. This was short-lived after witnessing a tied dog jump from a moving pickup truck, and it was hanging there... The dog survived, thank God. This, together with my sister Marcia Miranda’s encouragement, led me to enter my third vocation.” To become proficient at her new calling, Miranda delved into much research and found that there were a few people locally who would transport animals to the vet, but not professionally. There is also Dr Saraj Kalicharan, who runs an “animal hotel” in south Trinidad.
“My idea was to provide total emergency care comfort for both animal and owner,” said Miranda. “Reassurance that the animal would be transported with the same care and love that it was used to, was paramount. And, reliability that the animal was taken to the vet in the quickest time.”
It is with this vision that the pet ambulance service—Pet to the Vet—was born. Said Miranda: “I purchased the first ambulance, a panel van, which I outfitted with every possible thing to make the animal comfortable, including air conditioning and a seat for the owner close to the animal, if they wished to accompany them. A couple months later I imported a handicap vehicle outfitted with a mechanical ramp, stretcher/gurney and all other fittings of an emergency vehicle. I’m equipped with several sizes of cages.The animal is put into the cage, which is placed on to the lowered ramp and hydraulically lifted into the vehicle. So there’s little anxiety or trauma to the animal.”
Miranda’s business has been an eyebrow-raiser to all her customers. “My customers are surprised when they see an actual ambulance pull up to collect their sick animal rather than some van or pickup, like dog catchers have,” said Miranda. “I must stress that my pet ambulance is fully outfitted with all the stateof- the-art facilities and aids of an ambulance that is used to transport human beings. In fact, not even the ambulances that transport humans in this country can be compared to mine for animals.”
“My service works like this: we transport almost any animal to the vet of your choice. Our base is at Fourth Street, Mt Lambert, but demographically we try to cater to customers in the west, as far east as Sangre Grande, and, as far south as Point Fortin. We, however, are flexible, if needed for further destinations.
“The customer calls, describes the issue, the vet/clinic of choice, and their address. They can choose to accompany the animal if it’s a regular visit where they’re attended to and returned.
“If I am to be solely responsible, I assume all the duties as the owner. I would receive and record instructions from the vet, including prescriptions. The animal is then returned to its home and owner. Unfortunately there are also sad cases where owners have to euthanise their animals, or the animal dies for whatever reason.
“I work with a crematorium company called Pets Are People Too, where your pet can be cremated and ashes can be delivered if desired. It’s the same arrangement—with your loved one being picked up and taken care of with the same professionalism and compassion as that of a human. And yes, there is an animal crematorium, folks.”
Miranda is focussed, obsessed even, with her business. She said: “My days start very early and some days are pretty long. I do occasionally have a driver and/or assistant. I am very satisfied and generally have a feeling of fulfilment. Though there is still quite a great deal to instil in the hearts and minds of Trinbagonians on caring for and loving our animals, I am happy to admit that there has been a vast improvement, based on the passion and concern I have seen with my customers and their animals. I am truly blessed to be earning a living that’s a love, not a job.”
In spite of the amount of work that she does daily, Miranda also takes in stray animals. She said: “Trinidadians do not respect animals and they do not think that they have feelings. I really wish that people would understand that animals have done so much for mankind and continue doing so unconditionally. Regardless of how they are treated, animals give unconditional love.
“We need to show more love to animals and not abuse and abandon them. No animal ever committed a crime but yet we lock them in cages or tie them like slaves. A bone is not a meal. Don’t just throw two bones for the dog and think you are doing something special.”
MORE INFO
Contact Pet to the Vet at 315-PETS, 620-4211, 338-0528.