Cromwell Vets “extracurricular” – not just caring for your pets

Every summer there are lots of community events – fetes, carnivals, festivals – and we just love them at Cromwell Vets. We attend events all over our region and run fun dog shows, have-a-go agility and gundog scurry (with our fabulous friends from St Ives Dog Training Club) and have lots of fun games and competitions. Not only does this give us the chance to meet you great people but also it also helps us raise lots of money for charity – something else we love.

Every year or so we choose a new charity and raised thousands of pounds. So far we have saved a moon bear with “Animals Asia” (we still send money for his upkeep in the sanctuary), paid for the training of an assistance dog for “Hounds for Heroes”, sent a puppy off on their journey to become a “Medical Detection Dog” and provided much needed support for the network of “Cinnamon Trust” carers. So what’s in store next?

Let us introduce you to StreetVet.

Registered charity StreetVet is a multi-award winning RCVS registered practice delivering free care to the homeless and their pets. It was started by 2 vets with backpacks walking the streets in London back in 2016. Since then the charity has expanded to have over 300 volunteers helping the homeless in eight cities around the country.

Homelessness is an increasing problem in the UK and many homeless people find comfort in the companionship of their dogs. The bond between them is often very strong and the health and wellbeing of the dogs is a major priority for their owners. Now the charity’s ever increasing volunteers can help, by providing accessible fundamental vet care. The charity have vaccinated and microchipped; treated for fleas and protected against lungworm; prescribed pain relief and helped fight infections; performed surgeries; and sometimes just sat and listened.

The Cambridge branch of StreetVet was set up with the help of some our very own Cromwell vets, Amanda and Jo. Along with other volunteers from the area (including other Cromwell Vets colleagues) they can now provide much needed veterinary care on a regular basis for the dogs living on the streets of Cambridge with their owners.

How you can help

Come along to the community events and join in the fun! We have seven (maybe eight) events lined up this summer and all our proceeds will go to StreetVet. Keep an eye on our Facebook for more information of where we’ll be and when. Hope to see you soon!

Alternatively you can donate at any of surgeries, online on the StreetVet website (www.streetvet.co.uk) or you can purchase items from their “Amazon wishlist” via their website too.

You will also help greatly by notifying the charity about a dog and owner in need of help.

We’ll be posting all the information for the events we’ll be attending this year and look out for our great competitions too!

We’ll also be following the progress of Sarah on her “Medal A Month For StreetVet” challenge. Sarah is one of our nurses and a regular volunteer with StreetVet Cambridge. So far she’s completed 50 miles running in January, completed a 10k and a half marathon; three months down, three medals earned! You can keep track of Sarah’s challenge on our Facebook page, where you can also find the link to sponsor her if you wish.