The PDSA has revealed plans for a ground-breaking Pet Wellbeing Centre in Nottingham, costing £3.7m to build and more than £1m to run annually.
The charity has been caring for Nottingham pets since 1927, when the first PDSA dispensary opened in the city, but the current 60-year-old pet hospital is outdated and needs replacing.
With building work starting shortly, it is hoped that the new centre will be open by spring 2022.
PDSA senior vet Sarah Campbell said: “Nottingham PDSA Pet Hospital is a vital lifeline for local owners struggling to afford vet care for their pets. Many more people have been plunged into financial hardship due to the impacts of the pandemic and we’re predicting that more people will turn to us for help in the months ahead.
“For many of the people we help, who are often elderly or vulnerable, their pet is their only companion, who plays a crucial role in helping to combat loneliness and isolation.
“Despite regular maintenance and refurbishment the current pet hospital has deteriorated over time and is no longer fit-for-purpose. It is outdated and too small to meet the ever-increasing demand for PDSA services, a problem which is made worse by the poor layout of rooms. It desperately needs replacing, and to do that we need your help.”
The facility will feature a bigger, brighter waiting area, with separate areas for cats and dogs, reducing the stress a visit to the vet can cause. It will also house improved kennel facilities to allow pets to recover in comfort from surgery and treatment in a better environment, a diagnostic room, digital x-ray facilities and a large car park.
Sarah added: “It will enable us to provide the best treatment possible to pet patients, in purpose-built surroundings, long into the future.
“It will give us more consulting rooms, two operating theatres and a specialist dental theatre, meaning we have more capacity to provide essential treatment for pets in need.
“It will also allow us to do more than just treat animals – we want it to become the heart of the Nottingham pet community. Somewhere people can get advice and guidance on how to keep their best friends happy and healthy.
“The hospital will also help train and educate the next generation of veterinary surgeons through our links with the University of Nottingham, who we’re proud to have worked with since 2010, and will include a dedicated training room for veterinary students.”
