A mobile veterinary service that began with just one vet and one nurse is now celebrating its 8th birthday with a full team of staff.
Vet2U was created by Kate Higgs and Kerry Storey in 2016 when they saw the need for an ambulatory service to help owners with frightened cats and fearful dogs, mums who struggle with children and pets and elderly clients that may have mobility issues.
Today demand is so great that there have been several office moves to cater for the expanding team and client list.
Kate qualified from the Royal Veterinary College in 2009 and has worked in small animal practice since.
She has a dog called Islay, a cat called Dave and two guinea pigs called Alf and Marv.
Kerry qualified as an RVN in 2003 and has worked in many multi-discipline small animal practices. She has a sphynx called Chaos, two dogs called Sybil and Flossie and a marine aquarium.
Kate said: “We can’t believe it’s been eight years already! What started as a novel idea in the Thanet area, with a vet and a nurse visiting patients in their homes, has grown into a small team of vets, nurses, and other practice staff.
“This growth has led us to move offices several times to accommodate our expanding team. We are now even in the process of creating additional theatre space at our base to support the work we do.
“We have truly enjoyed getting to know our clients and their pets over the years and feel blessed by the support we have received. It has also been wonderful to support charities as part of our business, especially through the regular neutering schemes we have been involved with.
“We would like to thank our wonderful staff and clients for their support, and here’s to another 8 years and beyond!”
Lucy Cook, from Missing Cats and Strays in Thanet, has congratulated the team on the anniversary and thanked the pair for hosting charity pet neutering days, saying: “Kerry and Kate had a vision to create a mobile service in Thanet to bring top quality, veterinary care to pets in the comfort of their own home.
“This made life easier for clients that were elderly, disabled or didn’t drive. It is also a Godsend for anxious or immobile pets. Eight years later, clients flock to Vet2U due to the quality of care their pets receive.
“Kerry and Kate are positive female role models in the small business world and I hope little girls and young women see their hard work and get inspired to follow their ambitions.
“I am incredibly proud to work with them, without their support and generosity MCASIT would not have saved so many pussycat lives.”
Furever grateful
Bruce was a stray for five years, roaming around Newington, his ears had completely been worn down by years of fighting. His claws were embedded into his pads and had gotten infected, and he had rotten teeth which needed removing, as well as needing to be castrated and microchipped.
Lottie was a five month old kitten that was left outside to roam despite just being a baby herself.
Peaches was also a kitten and a new mum to 5 kittens that had been born in a Wendy House.
Ernest was a once owned cat that had been kicked out of his home when his owners moved out and left him behind. He was in heart failure and struggling to breathe, and his odds were very slim however, due to dedication and Vet2U, three years on he is healthy and happy with no heart failure.
Paws-itive feedback
Jon Brooks: “ Since becoming disabled in 2013 life was harder. One of the hard things was taking our cats and dog to the vet, especially when Tilly, our Patterdale Terrier, went blind. We discovered Vet 2U and our world changed, for the better. Always home visits, amazingly compassionate staff, towards us and to our animals. This compassion shone through when, so sadly, my beloved Tilly had to be PTS. Vet 2U are so wonderful for all but most especially for disabled people like my wife and I.”
Chris and Edward Jaye-Jones: “Congratulations to Vet 2U on their 8th anniversary! We were recommended to them when our elderly hyperthyroid cat couldn’t do the journey to the vet without throwing up. Since then it has all been plain sailing. They are lovely people and so gentle and caring with the animals and owners. They are a real lifeline to pets and owners who can’t travel to a vet. We would never change.”
Find Vet2U at www.vet2u.direct
