The Burgess Excel Vet Awards has revealed its shortlist of finalists for this year’s inaugural digital ceremony.
The awards were created by Burgess Pet Care last year in conjunction with the Rabbit Welfare Association & Fund to recognise the hard work of the UK’s rabbit-friendly vets, nurses and practices.
One winner from each of this year’s four categories – Rabbit Vet of the Year, Rabbit Nurse of the Year, Rabbit Practice of the Year and Best Rabbit Awareness Week Campaign – will be announced on the Burgess Pet Care Facebook page on Friday 13th November.
A judging panel of industry experts, veterinary professionals and rabbit specialists spent several days assessing a huge range of nominations and self-nominations from veterinary professionals and practices across the UK.
The judging panel comprised:
> Dr Suzanne Moyes MVB MRSVS, lead spokesperson for Rabbit Awareness Week and veterinary director at Burgess Pet Care
> Rae Walters, director at the Rabbit Welfare Association & Fund
> Dr John Chitty BVETMED CertZooMed MRCS, co-director of an exotics practice in Andover and outgoing president of the British Small Animals Veterinary Association (2017-2018)
> Dani Sewell MICPR, communications director at Fred Marketing, the PR agency for Rabbit Awareness Week
The final shortlist has been determined on a wide range of elements, including expert understanding of the specific needs of rabbits, the specialist facilities their practice provides, their provision of rabbit-specific educational materials and additional work that’s been undertaken to support rabbit owners.
Suzanne said: “We received hundreds of nominations from rabbit experts across the UK, so we couldn’t be happier with the response to our first Excel Vet Awards. It’s been fantastic to hear about so many veterinary professionals who are going above and beyond every day to take care of the UK’s rabbits, especially during these challenging times.
“The quality of the entries we’ve received has been nothing short of phenomenal, so arriving at a final shortlist was very challenging! Everyone who has made it this far should be really proud of themselves.”
One winner from each of the four categories will receive a cash price of £500 and a trophy for recognition of their efforts. The finalists in each category are as follows:
Rabbit Vet of the Year
> Dr Nadene Stapleton, Beaumont Sainsbury Animal Hospital in Camden, London
> Dr Rachel King, East Barnet Vets in East Barnet, London
> Dr Rieke Hettrick, Moorview Vets in Newcastle
> Dr Sophie Jenkins, Origin Vets in Cardiff, Wales
> Dr Madonna Livingstone, Ark Veterinary Clinic in Coatbridge, Scotland
Rabbit Vet Nurse of the Year
> Laura Petts, Robson and Prescott Veterinary Surgeons in Morpeth, Northumberland
> Kerry Warrington, Cogges Veterinary Surgery in Witney, Oxfordshire
> Nicky Leech, Vets4Pets in Leamington Spa, Warwickshire
> Emma Maguire, Westfield Vets in Somerset
> Olivia Coulton, Wendover Heights Veterinary Centre in Buckinghamshire
Best Rabbit Awareness Week Campaign of the Year
> Abi Nell, Mill House Veterinary Practice in King’s Lynn, West Norfolk
> Molly Fiander, Locum Veterinary Nurse
Rabbit Friendly Veterinary Practice of the Year
> Beaumont Sainsbury Animal Hospital in London
> Robson and Prescott Veterinary Surgeons in Morpeth, Northumberland
> Toll Barn Veterinary Centre in North Walsham, Norfolk
> Abbey House Veterinary Hospital in Morley, Rothwell and Cleckheaton, West Yorkshire
> Scarsdale Vets in Langley Mill, Nottingham
Originally planned to take place at the London Vet Show, this year’s ceremony will now take place digitally on the Burgess Pet Care Facebook Page (www.facebook.com/burgesspetcare) due to covid-19 restrictions.
