Couple shocked by steep COVID-19 fee at a Melbourne vet

A couple have been charged an additional $245 for their dog to receive vet treatment, because they are COVID-positive.

The pair’s eight-month-old border collie ate a pack of Maltesers, and needed urgent vet treatment on Thursday.

The couple phoned and explained they have COVID-19, so the dog would be dropped off by someone else.

Raelene, whose daughter owns the dog, told Tony Jones the couple didn’t know about the charge until another family member arrived at the vet to drop the dog off.

“They said ‘There’s an extra charge for COVID cleaning because we have to gown up and clean up after the dog’s been here’,” she said.

According to the RSPCA website, while it is unusual, some animals can get sick if infected with the virus that causes COVID-19.

Press PLAY below to hear how the situation unfolded.