Byfleet Vets4Pets

I graduated from Glasgow University Veterinary School in 1982, having been brought up in one of the Scottish “new towns” on the outskirts of Glasgow. Over the years I have worked in many areas of the veterinary field, including university, charity work with the PDSA, the Armed Forces, industry and owning my own practices. Despite a long and varied career, I have never lost my enthusiasm for the work and enjoy nothing more than seeing owners reunited with a healthy pet after illness or surgery. Outside of work, I like to relax by taking long beach walks near to where I live and I am owned by Eros, my Syrian Hamster, whom I adopted from Byfleet Pets at Home Support Adoption. I love meeting new people and pets, so why not come along and meet us all, have a look round the surgery and see how we can help maintain the special bond between you and your pet.

I have been working in the veterinary profession since 1998 and qualified as a veterinary nurse in 2004. Over the years, I've had the opportunity to work in a variety of veterinary practices ranging from referral clinics to dedicated emergency and critical care out of hours clinics. Along with the various practices I have worked in, I have had the chance to work with small animals, cats, dogs and horses in the UK and exotic animals such as reptiles, parrots, falcons, cheetah's and lions whilst I worked in Dubai.

One of my passions, within my profession is rehabilitation and physiotherapy. I’m helping to treat many patients with arthritis, post orthopaedic surgeries and acute injuries with my laser therapy clinics to aid in pain management and ensure these pets still lead a happy life.

I have 3 Japanese Shiba Inu dogs, Rossi, Yūshi and Mia. Yūshi is a rescue from China, where he was sold to the meat trade. I re-homed him via Japanese Shiba Inu Rescue UK in March 2019 after he was rescued in China. He is very well travelled - his journey to the UK took him from China into Paris and finally to the UK. He was about 8 months then. Mia is my newest rescue from Japanese Shiba Inu Rescue UK and she move in in November 2019. She has settled in well and completes my home!

I also have 2 cats, Tink, whom I brought back from Dubai and is an Arabian Mau and Kieren who is a domestic short hair whom I took on as a rescue after he was involved in a road traffic accident. I previously volunteered as a wolf handler at the UK Wolf Conservation Trust in Beenham, Reading for 5 years during my spare time which I loved and still follow them closely. I love all aspects of veterinary nursing, and have a true enthusiasm for my job, but I particularly enjoy my nurse consultations and meeting all your lovely pets!

I qualified as a Registered Veterinary nurse in 2013 and I have worked here at Byfleet Vets4Pets since we opened in March 2016. I did my nurse training in a busy Orthopaedic referral practice where my love for nursing grew. Before training as a Veterinary nurse I completed my Bsc (Hons) in Animal Management and worked in a cattery for 5 years whilst I was studying.

Since qualifying to become a Veterinary Nurse I have undertaken various courses in behaviour, dentistry, anaesthesia and pet bereavement. However, the course I am most proud of is my Certificate in Feline Nursing.

When completing my Certificate in Feline Nursing I changed a few things around the practice for example the cat waiting area is now separate from the dogs and they have their own parking tables, and the way we approach and handle our feline patients. By doing this Vets4Pets Byfleet was awarded the ISFM silver level cat friendly practice award. This means that we think about cats as individuals and we try and make their visit to us as stress free as possible. I have a real passion for cats and think they are amazing creatures, my colleagues even call me the cat whisperer (better then crazy cat lady!).

When I am not busy working or studying I enjoy spending time with my husband Simon and our 7 year old son Jack who keeps us on our toes. I have a Romanian rescue dog called Bandit. We took him on in August 2019 and he has really tested my behavioural training skills - but he has now settled in and is a very loving dog. I also have an 11 year old collie cross Bobbie who still thinks he’s a puppy and my two beautiful cats Rex (5 year old, DSH) whom I hand reared from around 3 days old after he was found on the side of the road and Evie (1 year old, Birman x) whom I recused when she was bought into the practice as a stray.

I love all aspects of Veterinary Nursing and believe I have the best job, and in 2018 I was awarded The Best Team Player award with in the Vets4Pets vet group.

Hello, I'm Tim. I've had a love of animals all my life, but I really wanted to be a chef when I was a kid, as I loved food (and eating it), but I decided as I grew up that I'd rather work with animals instead. I completed a part-time animal management course 2 years ago and I'm excited to be joining the team here at Byfleet. Some of you might recognise me, as I used to work in the Marks and Spencers café in Brooklands. I also volunteered at the UK Wolf Conservation Trust in Beenham, with Helen. Wolves are my favourite animal and it was a dream come true to be able to work with them. I started working as a Veterinary Care Assistant and as of April 2020 I am now enrolled at college as a Student Veterinary Nurse. I'm an avid gamer and enjoy playing videogames online with my friends, as well as various miniature, card and board games. I often play in events and tournaments in and around Surrey, so say hi if you see me.

I first joined the Vets4Pets Group in 2015 as a Locum Receptionist for the Woking Vets4Pets practice. The position was meant to be short term, however, it didn't take long for me to fall in love with the job as well as the team and I became a full time Vets4Pets Receptionist within a month. When Steve and Helen asked me to join them and the new team at Byfleet as the Reception Manager, I was ridiculously humbled and excited to start a new adventure at a brand new Vets4Pets practice. Not many people can say this but I genuinely love coming into work everyday due to my amazing colleagues and clients. Most of my time outside of work is taken up by my two crazy miniature labradoodles, Chewbacca and Wookie and a cat called Albio. In 2019, I became a mum for the 1st time to my wonderful little girl Leonie and she keeps me occupied constantly.

Hello, my name is Marlene. I have always been mad about animals and love my job, meeting and greeting all the animals that come in to the practice. I am the proud owner of a mad ginger cat, Cuthbert, who thinks he’s a dog, and whose favourite stunt is retrieving my post from the doormat, and hiding it under the bed. He’s immensely proud of himself when he does this! I’m a voracious reader, enthusiastic (if not very knowledgeable!) gardener, and love rambling in the countryside.

It was never a question for me that I would work with animals, I always knew I would, nothing else interested me! I started on that road as soon as I could by doing a day release animal management course from my secondary school before going to college full time to study animal management. Since then I’ve worked in various kennels and catteries as well as grooming parlous and a doggy day care. The logical next step was a vets, so here I am! I joined the team in August 2017 and have found the practice to be an amazing place to work. As of September 2020, I have now taken the position as Veterinary Care Assistant within the practice. I have two border collies called Kas and Zeke and you may see me around the area walking them.