The Clifton road branch of the Paxton Vet Group in South Norwood opened their doors to clients and local residents on June 21st which proved a huge success, with over 140 people attending!
Phil Spencer from TV’s “Location, Location Location” was present to officially open the clinic, which has recently come under new ownership, and talk about his own animals as well as the state of the housing market. He was very entertaining and also bought his son Jake along to enjoy the day.
Phil Spencer with Helen the head Vet
Owners are often fearful when leaving their beloved pet at the vets for an operation or hospitalisation, as they don’t often get to see what happens “behind the scenes” or where the animals stay when they leave them. This Open Day was an opportunity to show people around the extensive facilities, in this surprisingly spacious clinic, and for some people to get a feel for what perhaps it would be like to work at one.
In each room there was a demonstration by the staff, and plenty to learn for owners and children alike, such as why we should vaccinate our pets, how to care for their teeth, how anaesthetics are monitored and the equipment used in diagnosis of disease. There was a quiz with prizes such as a Digital Camera, soft toys, free microchips, wormers for a year, vaccinations and check ups.
Major suppliers to the clinic such as Hills, Novartis, TRM and Intervet were present to demonstrate their products, which include vaccinations, wormers, nutraceuticals and pet foods.
The Animedic Animal Ambulance was on hand for people to look around which proved very popular. This ambulance is a state of the art animal transport vehicle which is used by more and more people in the London area, including this clinic, to transport animals from their home to the vets, or to the overnight Emergency Clinic, or to specialist referral hospitals. It can hold up to eight large dogs, with oxygen tent facilities and intravenous fluid pumps. (www.animedic.co.uk). The Animedic team are always on call, and half way through the event, were called away to rescue a fox and bring it back to the clinic!
Children were invited to bring along their own teddies on which the nurses demonstrated bandage techniques, and were offered the chance of getting their faces painted in the waiting room. Passers by were quite surprised to see tigers, butterflies and spotted dogs exit the practice with their various limbs bandaged!
All in all it was a great event, demonstrating the popularity of the clinic after it’s change of ownership and refurbishment, and marking it’s place in the local community.