Wakefield (Horbury Road) Vets4Pets

My name is Sharon and I am the practice manager here at Wakefield Vets4Pets.

I have worked in the veterinary sector for over 23 years and have been a qualified nurse since 2013. I have a certificate in Mental Health first aid and I am also a human first aider. I have worked within Vets4Pets since Oct 2016 and thoroughly enjoy my job.

I work with a fantastic team who pride themselves in everything that they do.

In my spare time I enjoy reading, walking, and DIY. I also get to bring my beautiful dog to work with me - who is adored by all - what more could I want.

I have worked as a veterinary care assistant for the past 4 months. I previously worked in retail and recently took 3 years out of work to focus on raising my 2 young children. I have always loved animals and when I was ready to get back to work I decided there was no better time to pursue a career I had always wanted.

What is your favourite pet animal & why?

My favourite animals are dogs because they are great companions and very loyal.

What pets do you have and what are their names?

A yellow Labrador called Ted

What's the best pet name you have come across?

Pumbaa

What is your favourite famous animal?

Simba

What is the best aspect of working for Vets4Pets?

I love being part of an amazing team that provides great care for all the animals that we see.

I started working in the veterinary industry when I was at university studying zoo management and had a weekend job as an kennel assistant at a veterinary hospital 6 years ago. It was never an industry I'd thought of being in but doing the weekend role ignited my love for it as I loved looking after sick animals and seeing them go home knowing I'd played a part in helping them to get better. Once I finished my degree I decided to work full time at the hospital and then in December 2022 I joined the Vets 4 Pets Wakefield team full time.

What is your favourite pet animal and why? 

Guinea-pigs, they're such good companions and they have such a cheeky character- especially when it comes to feeding time!

What pets do you have and what are their names? 

I have a dog called Douglas who is a border collie x poodle with tons of energy! I also have 4 guinea-pigs called Rocket, Olive, Hazel and Winston and a family dog called Eli who is a Labrador x staffie.

What's the best pet name that you've ever come across? 

Geoff- or any human name!

 What is your favourite famous animal? 

Sid the sloth

 What's the best aspect of working for Vets4Pets? 

I love how the team all work together effectively in our different roles to make sure the pets in our care are getting the highest standard of care.

A native of the North East, I joined in 2020 after a career in Radio Advertising! Always a lover of animals and their welfare, so a career change worth making.

What is your favourite pet animals and why?

I love all spaniels! They're such a fun and cheeky breed.

What pets do you have?

Denton, a Cocker Spaniel... who's mischievous lets just say!

I also have a goldfish called Gaz.

What's the best name you've come across?

Grunt. He was a dog in the family years ago and incredibly cute.

 Favourite famous animal

Am I allowed to say Falkor, the Luck Dragon from the Neverending Story?! He's more like a dog, so this must count...

Best aspects about working for V4P

I love the fact that I get to interact with clients and their pets every day. The Team here are like friends more than colleagues and that's hard to find. I absolutely love my job.

I previously worked in the civil service for 25 years and then took voluntary redundancy. I was then employed by a franchise baby swim school for 14 years helping to run the business and building the business from having 50 babies swimming per week to over 700 babies swimming a week in 14 different pools!

Due to the pandemic I was made redundant in March 2021. I applied to join Vets4pets and went from Friday as office manager, working from home  to Monday as customer care assistant in Vets4pets Wakefield.

 What is your favourite pet animal and why?

I have two favourites these are ponies and Spaniels

I always wanted my own pony as a child but that never happened. My daughter asked to start riding lessons, as I had some years earlier and progressed to wanting a pony and I bought two! One each, ten years ago.

I love spaniels! We had two spaniels for 14 and a half years as a family and they were just so funny and loved so much. We lost both over the last year and within 5 days had bought a cocker puppy!

 What pets do you have and what are their names? 

We have two ponies called Blossom a Black welsh cross. She is rather highly strung but very much loved despite being a madam. The other is called Maddie and is a full new forest. Maddie is far too intelligent for her own good and will pull stunts such a limbo through wooden fences or jump electric fences to get to a different field!

My Cocker is called Baxter and is ginger. He is still in the chewing stage and constantly looks for things to pinch so you chase after him.

 What's the best pet name that you've ever come across? 

Eggnogg the bulldog - I follow on face book

 What is your favourite famous animal? 

 Red rum the race horse. An amazing athlete

 What's the best aspect of working for Vets4Pets? 

Meeting so many lovely dogs and cats and their owners. I especially love when an owner who has lost a beloved  a pet returns with a new puppy or kitten and the joy that they feel and share with us on reception ​

I moved to Wakefield from Thirsk in 2018 and never found employment  I was happy in until I found my role with the Wakefield Vets4pets team in November 2021

What is your favourite pet animal and why?

All dogs, I love all their different personalities and how they give unconditional love

What pets do you have and what are their names? 

I have three dogs, Tilly a 4yr old black Cockapoo who was a rescue. Jake, a 6yr old black lab who is just a big baby, and Billy a black 12yr old Cocker Spaniel who is the boss, although Tilly tries her hardest to take his role.

What's the best pet name that you've ever come across? 

 I had a neighbour in Thirsk who had 2 dogs, a white Westie and a black Scotty called Spit and Polish, always made me laugh when I heard him calling them.

What is your favourite famous animal? 

 Greyfriars Bobby, such a lovely story

What's the best aspect of working for Vets4Pets? 

Dealing with our clients on a daily basis and all their lovely pets and seeing all the puppies mature into adult dogs.​

I previously worked with children of all ages for many years. After having 5 of my own, I decided I wanted a career change and joined the Vets4Pets team in September 2023. 

I love all animals but my favourite is any type of bulldog.

I have 2 pets of my own- a dog called Rocky (who is a french bulldog x jack russell). He is such a loving boy and is an attention seeker.

I also have a pet tarantula called Rosie. Rosie is a chillian rose and is a lovely red colour.

The best pet name I have heard of is Jessica the rabbit.

Most favourite famous animal is Marley from Marley and me.

The best aspect of working for Vets4Pets is having a job that you love and working with such a supportive team. It is also lovely to meet so many different animals every day.