Batam Animal Health Centre Eases Access to Pet Sterilisation via Online Booking

The Regional Technical Implementation Unit of the Animal Health Centre in Batam, Riau Islands, has made it easier for the public to access sterilisation or neutering services for pets through an online reservation service. Head of the Batam Animal Health Centre, Yusak W. Hardja, stated that the service is available via an application called the Online Pet Surgery Registration and Scheduling Service Information System, which can be accessed through the puskeswan.batam.go.id website. “By using this application, pet owners can register their cats or dogs for sterilisation or neutering surgery online from home, and then choose their own surgery date and time according to the available schedule,” he said when contacted in Batam on Friday. He explained that the system helps reduce queue congestion at the animal health centre while saving the public time and transportation costs to the location. “To use the service, pet owners are required to fill in their personal data and upload their identity card. For the animal’s information, several data points must be filled in along with proof of a valid pet vaccination,” he said. “These requirements are important to ensure the animal is truly fit during the operation and remains healthy during the post-operative recovery period.” For animals that have never been vaccinated or whose vaccination has expired, Yusak urged owners to get them vaccinated first before applying for surgery. “Vaccinations can be done at the animal health centre or at private veterinary practices,” he said. Meanwhile, other animal health services such as check-ups and vaccinations do not require registration through the application. Yusak noted that the public response to the Sipintar Jaring application has been very positive so far because it provides certainty of service schedules more transparently. “The public feels greatly helped because they can see the available schedules and determine a suitable surgery time without having to come to the animal health centre first,” he said. He added that the public will be directed to pay after the surgery is completed. “For payment, we only use QRIS scanning. The retribution fee for neutering a male cat is Rp150,000 and sterilising a female cat is Rp250,000,” he said. Meanwhile, the retribution fee for neutering a male dog is Rp250,000 and sterilising a female dog is Rp350,000, with a body weight not exceeding 10 kilogrammes per animal.