Wakefield (Horbury Road) Vets4Pets

Steven has been at the practice since it opened on 25 February 2002.  He enjoys most part of small animal veterinary surgery, but has a special interest in orthopaedic and plastic surgery.  He was born and studied in South Africa and came out to England just after qualifying way back in 1996.

Here are a few facts about him:-

What is your favourite animal and why?

I like Staffies. Just think they are great.

What pets do you have and what are their names?

I have a blue Staffie called Shaka

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

Looroll and Bogbrush for 2 kittens. Apparently the kids named them ;-)

What is your favourite famous animal?

Nemo

From a young age I always knew I wanted to work in the Veterinary industry. No other job in my opinion is as rewarding and I love that every day is different. I started my journey at Vets4pets in 2015/16 as a Student Veterinary Nurse. I qualified as a Registered Veterinary Nurse in 2019 and I've been a part of the team ever since.

 What is your favourite pet animal and why? 

I have always been a dog person. They love unconditionally and are always excited to see you when you get home from work. 

What pets do you have and what are their names? 

I have a Labradoodle called Ozzy who is the sweetest boy with big brown puppy dog eyes. He is also a gentle giant who gives the best hugs. 

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

It would have to be a pug called Leonardo Depugrio.

 What is your favourite famous animal? 

Definitely Clifford the big red dog because he's just a giant slobbery doggo who's just as clumsy as me. 

 What's the best aspect of working for Vets4Pets? 

The best aspect about working for Vets4pets is being surrounded by a tight-knit team who support each other and having the freedom and encouragement to develop my skills as a RVN. 

I always wanted to be a Veterinary Nurse from a very young age.  I studied Veterinary Nursing at Myerscough College and I have been a Registered Nurse for 21yrs now.  I have been at Wakefield since the practice opened in Februay 2002 having a small carrier gap to have my 2 boys.  I love the surgical aspect of my job and have just finished studying NCert in Surgical nursing last month.  I can safely say I love having so many fur babies to cuddle every day.

 What is your favourite pet animal and why? 

 I do love dogs and my favourites are Staffies, they just have the best attitude to life.

What pets do you have and what are their names? 

I have a 10yr old staffie called Shaka who lives life for cuddles, food and walks

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

Mouse (for a cat) 

What is your favourite famous animal? 

Tom and Jerry

What's the best aspect of working for Vets4Pets? 

I love actually being allowed to do what I was trained to do. We get to do lots of nursing at Vets4Pets compared to my previous jobs

I studied Animal Management at Newton Rigg College and had a keen interest in conservation. However, my love of working hands on with animals led my career to veterinary nursing. I started with Wakefield Vets4Pets as a student veterinary nurse in 2017 and in 2020 I qualified with a degree in Veterinary Nursing and Practice Management at Harper Adams University.

 What is your favourite pet animal and why? 

My favourite pet animal is a dog as they always greet you with a waggy tail and cuddle.

What pets do you have and what are their names? 

I have 3 dogs, a Labrador called Riley, a Border Collie called Meg and a Jack Russell called Dottie. I have 2 cats called Gizmo and Felix and 12 chickens who all have names but would be too long to list! Some of my favourites are Frizzle, Raven and Roo. 

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

Mr Squidgy Paws!

What is your favourite famous animal? 

Mufasa from The Lion King. 

What's the best aspect of working for Vets4Pets? 

We have a lovely team that all care for their patients and clients. 

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.

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.

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.

My first job after leaving school was in a veterinary practice and I loved it!

After training and working as a human nurse for 20 years and then having my own business I've come back to my first love and have worked within the veterinary sector for 4 years now.

 What is your favourite pet animal and why?

Dogs are my favourite, I've had quite a few over the years and each one has a different personality.

 What pets do you have and what are their names? 

I have 2 older Chihuahuas called Eenie and Phoebe.  I also have 2 young Pomeranians called Pumpkin and Chia and an ageing cat called Jake.

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

I think it's Magpie, a lovely little black and white dog.

My neighbour did have a dog called Sprout but he wasn't green....or round!!

 What is your favourite famous animal? 

Hatchi because I've had both Japanese Akitas and Shibas. 

 What's the best aspect of working for Vets4Pets? 

Definitely meeting all the wonderful pets we have come in to the clinic.​​

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.​