Member Article

Vets Build Relationship With Guide Dogs

Family run White Cross Vets is now caring for more than 40 active guide dogs and puppies that are training to become assistance dogs, across its Guiseley and Roundhay practices.

White Cross Vets works closely with national charity Guide Dogs, to provide local dogs with a wide range of discounted care and preventative treatments including vaccinations and prescription drugs.

Hayley Thompson, Veterinary Nurse from White Cross Vets in Guiseley, says: “We have a longstanding relationship with Guide Dogs and over the last decade, we have worked with hundreds of assistance dogs across Leeds, Bradford and Wharfedale. We’ve expanded the scheme in recent months and we’re delighted to currently be working with so many active and training dogs.

“These dogs all do a fantastic job and give blind people a level of independence that would often be impossible without their help, so it’s very rewarding that we can provide them with care and treatment to ensure that they can always perform to the best of their abilities.”

Hilary Heane has been taking her guide dog Chandler to White Cross Vets in Guiseley for the last two years, and nine years with her previous guide dog. Hilary says: “Chandler makes a huge difference to almost every aspect of my life, as well as being a wonderful companion, so it’s vitally important that he is fit and healthy. It’s extremely reassuring to have White Cross Vets giving him regular health checks and as a result he is very rarely ill, which gives me great peace of mind.”

Guide Dogs has been breeding and training guide dogs for more than 75 years, providing thousands of dogs to blind and partially-sighted people of all ages and from all walks of life. There are nearly 4,800 guide dog owners in the UK. The guide dog service receives no government funding and depends entirely upon public support.

White Cross Vets currently has 16 practices and is one of the fastest growing veterinary groups in the UK.

This was posted in Bdaily's Members' News section by Steven Wright .