We love the fact that we have such a diverse client base. One of the best parts of our job is getting to know our pets and their owners, and we often hear about our clients in the local (and sometimes national) news! We are also aware that there are many members of our local community who work quietly in the background, without recognition, significantly improving the lives of those around them. We thought it would be nice to have a place to share our appreciation of these community heroes.

Some of you may already have come into contact with local wildlife champion, Chris Percival. For over 50 years now, Chris has taken in, nursed and rehabilitated animals in need. Her remit is wide! She cares for foxes, hedgehogs, bats, badgers, pigeons, swans and other waterfowl, birds of prey and all species of fledgling and does this all in her own home, with very little help, and no funding. Chris has years of accumulated knowledge about how best to care for each species. We help where we can with medication, diagnostics and sometimes even surgery. We have X-rayed birds of prey, splinted the broken legs of pheasants and amputated the irreversibly damaged hind legs of hedgehogs. We rely on Chris for advice and rehabilitation. If we have a fledgling bird or injured animal that needs longer term, possibly even lifetime care Chris is always willing to help. She will drive out and collect an injured fox or stranded goose from the middle of a field on a winter’s night, and juggles this with advice calls from members of the public as far afield as Italy!

There are few local facilities to care for injured wildlife, and those that do exist are always working at capacity. We don’t quite know what we (and the rest of Cambridge) would do without Chris so wanted to share our thanks and appreciation for everything that she does.

Our new branch surgery in Stapleford has such a lot of lovely wall space that we felt it would be a shame for it to go to waste. We are inviting local artists to display their work, some, but not all of which is animal themed. Not only does this brighten our surgery, but hopefully also gives the many talented artists in the area a chance to show-case their work. Our second artist. exhibiting until the end of December, is Roxana de Rond. 

Roxana is a local, freelance artist and illustrator, who works in traditional pen and ink, gouache and digitally. Happily for her us, her favourite subjects are people and dogs! Roxana graduated from Anglia Ruskin University in 2016 with a masters in Children’s Book Illustration. Roxana finds Cambridge an inspirational place to live, with its lovely buildings, green spaces and interesting inhabitants. “My art is usually inspired by the places I love, where I often sit on the off chance that I can capture moments of contentment (and the odd mishap!) Her art is sold as cards, prints and originals, online and at events, and she is available to work on individual commissions. We have made good use of Roxana’s skills at the practice, for greetings cards, websites and even staff wedding invites, so are really thrilled to have her exhibiting at at the surgery in the run up to Christmas. Do pop down and have a look at the lovely work on display if you get chance or enjoy browsing her website

Roxana de Rond Illustrator