THE dedicated team at Minster Veterinary Practice in York, are taking their skills to the streets to help dogs living rough with their owners.
Working with an organisation called Street Paws, the team volunteers once a month to venture out onto the streets of York, providing basic treatments to those in need.
Minster Veterinary Practice, with surgeries in Copmanthorpe, Haxby, Willow Grove, Tower Court and Crockey Hill, will be on hand to give free health checks, administer medication, microchips and preventative treatment, including flea and worm protection, to pets on the streets of York.
Emma Darling, Minster Veterinary Practice Manager said: “We are delighted to be involved in such a fantastic programme. For many homeless people, their pets are all they have, but accessing vital veterinary care can prove very difficult and frightening, with many fearing their pets will be taken off them.
“We are here to change this and build up trust with the owners, reassuring them that our team are here to help.
“We first got involved thanks to Street Paws founder Michelle, who approached one of our vets, Jenny Dabbs. Jenny has been central to our involvement and has organised all aspects including team rotas, as we had so many staff willing to volunteer, it became difficult to coordinate.
“Our vets and nurses are dedicated to providing vital treatment to all pets, and those living on the streets are no exception. Street Paws is such a positive concept as it gives us the chance to be able to help those desperately in need. Our staff could not wait to get involved.”
The Minster Veterinary Practice, part of the VetPartners group which owns some of the most respected and trusted veterinary practices across the UK, voluntarily give up one Sunday a month for the good cause.
Street Paws was set up in April 2016 by a former veterinary practice manager Michelle Southern and now has 130 veterinary staff, supporting five monthly sessions across the UK, including York.
Michelle said: “Street Paws started with myself, a vet and a nurse on the street with a bag of supplies, with the aim of providing vaccinations, flea and worming to the animals of the homeless.
“I was working with a local group providing sandwiches for the homeless and saw some dogs at the outreach. As I was working as a veterinary practice manager at the time, I knew I had to do something to help the animals.
“I gave up my job last summer as running Street Paws is my passion and is a full-time role. We are applying for registered charity status and we are expanding rapidly with the help from VetPartners practices.”
For media enquiries, please contact Sarah Bosnyak, Vet Partners PR and Communications Executive, on 0191 406 0522 or email sarah.bosnyak@vetpartners.co.uk