A 13-year-old Staffordshire Bull Terrier named Star has received life-saving surgery at a Vets for Pets practice in Bristol, thanks to Pets at Home’s partnership with award-winning charity StreetVet.
Star was brought to the expert care of Vets for Pets Bristol Emersons Green by her owner, who was experiencing homelessness, to have a carcinoma removed.
The procedure saw a 4cm growth, which had attached itself to muscle, removed from her abdomen. Following the operation, Star wore a medical pet shirt to help the wound heal for two weeks and is now receiving ongoing care from the practice.
The treatment was funded through Pets at Home’s partnership with StreetVet, which delivers free essential veterinary care and services to the pets of people experiencing homelessness across the UK.
If a patient needs to be referred to a veterinary practice for surgery, x-rays, blood tests or further investigative procedures, the Pets at Home StreetVet fund covers the cost of investigation, treatment, and ongoing medication. Each year, £20,000 is made available through the fund to Vets for Pets practices, part of Pets at Home, to provide this vital support.
More than 40 Vets for Pets practices across the country actively support the charity, with colleagues including veterinary nurses and surgeons volunteering their time to treat pets on the street as well as pets who are in a StreetVet accredited hostel with their owner.
Carla Puime Costoya, Practice Owner and Veterinary Surgeon at Vets for Pets Bristol Emersons Green, said: “The volunteering scheme is a fantastic initiative and something we’re really proud to be involved with. The wider support from Pets at Home means we are able to provide life-saving veterinary services to StreetVet’s clients’ pets without it impacting the charity’s vital funds. Being able to give something back to the local community and help pets like Star is hugely rewarding.”
Jade Statt, Co-Founder of StreetVet, added: “For those who are experiencing homelessness, the bond they have with their pets matters more than ever, but accessing veterinary care can be difficult. The support we receive from Pets at Home enables us to deliver essential care and services to our clients’ pets. We are so grateful for all the donations and every member of the team who volunteers their time – it makes an incredible difference.”
To find out more about Vets for Pets Bristol Emersons Green, visit: www.vets4pets.com/practices/vets-in-bristol/vets4pets-bristol-emersons-green
For more information about StreetVet, visit: www.streetvet.org.uk