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.

I qualified as a registered veterinary nurse in 2019. I joined Vets4Pets in October 2020 and was able to hit ground running in a busy interesting practice. I have a keen interest in rabbit medicine and nursing so I am wanting to specialise and develop in this area further. I have recently trained to be a clinical coach to support student vet nurses through their course both practically and academically. When I’m not in work I enjoy walking and exploring with my crazy Labrador Ozzy around the countryside. I also have two rescue bunnies Whiskey and Guinness who keep me very busy!

I qualified in 2017 as an RVN having worked in general practice since 2013. I worked at an orthopaedic referral practice for 3 years before moving to Vet4Pets in Harrogate.

I loved referral work and it has helped me improve my skills and level of care I can offer. I moved to Vets4Pets for a new challenge and have enjoyed every minute. The team are supportive and we all motivate each other to do the best by our patients and clients.

I am from York but have lived all over Yorkshire. I now live in Leeds with my girlfriend and our 4 pets! Remus and George our two mixed dogs and the cats, Chandler and Morty.

My name is Amina and I am a student veterinary nurse.

I am originally from Norway but fell in love with Yorkshire, and the people living here, and have now been here since 2017! Originally I trained to be an classical singer but my love for all animals made me change my career to what I now feel is the right path for me. I joined the Vets4Pets Harrogate team for placement in 2020 and have not wanted to leave since.

One of my favourite things about being a student veterinary nurse is that it is so exciting and the day is never the same, you never know what new things you will learn that day.

In my spare time I like to go explore new places here in Yorkshire, try new recipes and lately I have started to learn how to knit.

I have worked in veterinary practice for since 2007. I love meeting all the pets and their families, in happy times and also being there at some of the sad times. I have a working cocker spaniel called Gladys and a 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.

Hi, I’m Sara. 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 and joined the Vet4Pets team in August 2019.

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. We’re so lucky here in Yorkshire, with the dales on our doorstep. I’m originally from North Wales, so go back to visit family regularly.

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.