Harrogate Vets4Pets

Hi, I’m Leigh-Anne and I’m the owner of Vets4Pets Harrogate. I grew up in the West of Scotland and graduated from the university of Glasgow in July 2000, and moved to Yorkshire in the August of that year. I’ve been here ever since! I took over the Harrogate practice in 2008 and have loved being here for the last ten years. In that time we have been RCVS accredited, and become a nurse training practice. The most rewarding thing in my career is getting to know our clients and their pets. Knowing pets from their first visit to their last is a real privilege. It’s lovely to see people every year and hear about their lives too and to see their human families grow up. I’m incredibly proud of the nurses we have trained and find it incredibly rewarding to take school work experience students like Katie and Paisley and see them grow, develop and thrive. We have also hosted many vet students who feel like an extended family across the profession now they have qualified. I have two dogs, Lulu the border terrier who is 13, and Hatty the chin-pin who was a rescue from Miss Mollies. She came in with a broken leg whilst heavily pregnant and I fell for her despite being a “big dog” person at heart. Apart from running the surgery, I volunteer for Street Paws as an outreach vet for their homeless project, and am on the board for The Society or Practicing Veterinary Surgeons. I love writing so my role with them is as their editor and I contribute articles for their publications. I also answer vet questions for Pets at Home’s magazine and the coolest task I’ve ever helped with was writing a story line for Coronation Street- I was the veterinary adviser for the death of Great Dane, Schmeichel. When I’m not in work mode I love going to festivals and being a bit of a music geek, and reading. The dogs and I also like to visit all the dog friendly cafes, restaurants and bars in Harrogate- it’s the most dog friendly place I know!

I’m Becki, one of the vets at Harrogate. I decided I wanted to be a vet when I was three years old and haven’t looked back since, graduating from Cambridge Vet School in July 2017 and moving straight back home to Yorkshire. I joined Harrogate Vets4Pets in October 2017 and love being part of such a supportive, caring and friendly team.

In my final year at university, I went to South Africa for two weeks on a game capture course. Working with the wildlife there was fantastic; the highlight was monitoring a young rhino calf under anaesthetic, closely followed by hanging out of a helicopter and shooting at a target to practise darting!

At home I have four budgies – Chico, Spyro, Sherbet and Rocky - whose favourite game is throwing toys at me! Outside of work I enjoy reading and writing fantasy fiction, walking in the Dales and meeting up with friends. I’ve also recently started to learn Spanish.

My name is Sheryl. I am the proud mum to my son, Tyler, and daughter, Taryn and wife to my husband, Jake. We share our home with a whole zoo of animals! We have a cockapoo named Rascal who lives up to his name! Three cats called Belle, Loki and Flick. Then a rabbit who is the boss of the house called Blue and a rather clingy snake called Caspian. I have been a veterinary nurse for 13 years and still enjoy every part of my job. My favourite parts of my job are running the puppy parties, speaking to and getting to know clients that come to see us and nursing poorly animals back to health. The relationship I have built with some of the patients I have cared for is by far the most rewarding part of my job! If I had to pick one thing I don't particularly enjoy......it would be cleaning the kennels! My favourite things to do outside of work are going on long walks with my dog and having lots of family time.

I qualified as a registered veterinary nurse in November 2015. I originally trained at Vets4Pets Harrogate as their first ever student nurse before moving to another practice towards the end of my course to gain some out of hours/night experience. I returned back to the Vets4Pets family in September 2018 and it honestly felt that I had never left! I really enjoy running a wide range of nurse clinics, but especially rabbit clinics, as I am passionate about educating people about providing the best possible care to their bunnies. I have done a variety short courses and training in advance rabbit care and anaesthesia and due to this I’m often referred to as V4P’s “rabbit nurse!” This year I am wanting to start undertaking training in ‘Schedule 3 procedures’ which will allow me to perform stitch-ups and minor surgery as well as keeping my brain ticking! When not at work I can usually be found at the gym as weightlifting is my main hobby and I really enjoy keeping fit and active. Another big hobby of mine is baking which goes down very well with my colleagues when it appears in the staff room! I have two lovely rabbits at home called Saffie (a Netherland dwarf X) and Dougie (a lionhead lop).

I have worked in veterinary practice for over 12 years now. I love meeting all the pets and their families, in happy times and also being there at some of the sad times. I have (currently) an eleven year old working cocker spaniel called Minnie who is still keeping me on my toes and a twelve year old rescue tortoiseshell cat called Rocksie - who was found abandoned at Plumpton Rocks. I am usually behind the scenes at Vets4Pets but will appear in a second at the sound of "puppy" or "kitten". I've met lots of lots of pets over the years but one of my favourite names for a cat is Campuss. He was a rescue cat who was found at York University Campus.

Hi I'm Victoria, senior client care advisor. I been part of the Vets4pets team in Harrogate since August 2017. Initially training in childcare and completing a degree in young children's learning and development I decided I wanted a change in career! I had been working with children for 15 years and after having my own (twins!)decided I needed a new challenge. Don't work with children or animals... so I decided to do both! I love working as part of the Harrogate team, meeting new clients and their fur babies and seeing those regular clients which I have become so fond of. It makes me wish I'd joined the team sooner.

Hi, my name is Lauren and I'm a Client Care Advisor at Harrogate Vets4Pets. I have recently joined the team, after spending some time travelling across America with my family, and I'm really enjoying being part of the team! I have always had a love for animals ever since I was a kid, but due to my mum being allergic to pet fur, I have never owned a pet myself. However we currently have a big pond in our back garden that is home to lots of fish, newts, frogs and dragonflies. I also love listening to Korean music! So when I'm not at work, I'm most likely travelling to & from London to go to K-pop concerts with my friends. I look forward to meeting new people and their lovely pets.

I’m a rescue dog from Miss Mollie’s charity in Harrogate. I am a chin-pin, which is a cross between a chihuahua and a miniature pinscher. I was brought in to the surgery heavily pregnant and with a broken leg. The team fixed me up and after my puppies were rehomed (Roxy and Bean still come here for their vet care) I came to live with Leigh-Anne and Lulu. Everything is very good as long as everyone realised I am in charge. My role in the practice is as office guard dog and I also work as an emotional support dog when people have sad days. I love getting involved in interviews too. Out of work, my favourite things are snuggling under blankets and prancing around before dinner. I have also been a theatre diva, playing Bruiser Woods in the HSAP production of Legally Blonde. I had my own dressing room and have had quite a big head ever since.

I’m a thirteen year old border terrier and have lived with Leigh-Anne since I was 7 weeks old. My job at the practice is to keep Hatty company and to help the student nurses and vets with their training. My favourite thing is being a demo dog for ultrasound examinations as I love licking off the gel they put on my belly. I have even travelled to Cheshire a few times to do this and got to be made a fuss of by many new vets. I also like bandage practice and look super cute when the nurses put head bandages on me.

Hi, I’m Sara, the most recent addition to the Vets4Pets Harrogate team.  Having worked in advertising for many years, I decided that I needed to combine my love of animals with some existing skills, so thought that a Client Care Advisor would fit the bill.

I am a long term foster mum to Spike the lovely black cat, who’s an elderly gentleman of around 15. At the weekends, if I’m not working, I volunteer at The Donkey Sanctuary. Donkeys are brilliant, intelligent animals and donkey cuddles are the best (some will put their head on your shoulder for a cuddle).

I also enjoy walking/hiking.  Everyone in the team have been so very welcoming and patient while I learn the ropes.  Still lots to learn!!