Galedin Vets donation is boost for rugby legend Doddie and his pooch

Galedin Vets donation is boost for rugby legend Doddie and his pooch

A GALASHIELS veterinary practice has given beloved Scottish rugby legend Doddie Weir a double boost.

Galedin Vets came to the rescue of Mavis, a Jack Russell terrier owned by Doddie and wife Kathy, after their much-loved family pet broke her leg in a farm accident.

Mavis underwent an operation and, in a kind-hearted gesture, the practice has donated the £1,093.95 fee to the My Name’5 Doddie Foundation.

The charity was set up by Doddie after the former Melrose and Newcastle Falcons star was diagnosed with motor neurone disease and is helping to fund vital research into the causes and potential cures.

Mavis was rushed to E-vets, the out-of-hours emergency service based at Border Vets in Galashiels, where x-rays revealed a double break to her left leg.

She was then transferred the following day to Galedin Vets, where the Weir family are long-serving clients as their dog, farm animals and Kathy’s two horses are all treated by the practice.

Last year, a team of 20 receptionists, veterinary nurses and vets from Galedin branches across the borders raised £215.25 for Doddie’s charity by taking part in the Morebattle fun run.

Doddie, who farms in the Borders, said: “We have a long association with the practice through farming.  A lot of lovely people are doing a lot of lovely things to help us and this is another example.

“We are very pleased with the donation as it shows the level of support we are receiving for the work we’re trying to do, which is find a cure for MND.

“There is still no drug available and very little was being done, so the foundation was set up. Positive thinking is so important and what Galedin Vets have done is massively positive to me.

“Since the charity was set up in November 2017, some £2.2million has been given towards research and care. We have succeeded in bringing professors together to work together.”

Mavis suffered a broken left leg when a log landed on her in a mishap at the family’s small holding in the Borders.

Galedin Vets vet Pete Matthews operated on the 11-year-old terrier at their surgery on Easter Langlee Industrial Estate in Melrose Road, Galashiels, to insert a plate into her broken leg and she has made an excellent recovery.

After the Weir family paid for her treatment, Pete decided to donate the cost of the operation back to the My Name’5 Doddie Foundation.

Pete said: “Doddie has an international profile, but he is very much part of the community and the charity is a worthy cause close to our hearts.

“We’re pleased to see Mavis has recovered well. She was seen by our emergency service at E-vets, where she was stabilised, given pain relief and x-rayed. It was a relatively straightforward operation as it was a clean break and it is healing nicely.”

For media enquiries, please contact Amanda Little, VetPartners Senior PR and Communications Manager, on 07970 198 492 or email amanda.little@vetpartners.co.uk