Veterinary surgeon Laura shares how the PDSA helps animals at its Wolverhampton pet hospital
Becoming a vet has been Dr Laura Hodgkiss' dream since she as a little girl.
Now she helps poorly pets get the care and treatment they need at the PDSA's pet hospital in Wolverhampton.
On an average day almost 100 animals from cats and dogs to rabbits and hamsters will come through the doors requiring urgent assistance.
"We tend to see a lot more emergency cases here as we cover quite a big catchment area. It's mostly cats and dogs but we do also see rabbits, other small furries and pet birds," says Laura, who qualified as a veterinary surgeon in 2014.
Laura's love of animals began at an early age so she says there was never any doubt in her mind about what she wanted to do when she grew up.
After leaving school, she completed a five-year veterinary medicine (BVetMed) degree programme at the Royal Veterinary College, part of the University of London.
Her first job was in mixed practice, caring for both large and small animals, in Rugeley before she moved to the PDSA pet hospital in Tuxford Close, in 2019.
Laura, who is now team leader, says working for the charity, which provides free and low-cost treatment to pets in need for owners who are struggling to afford vital vet care, had always appealed to her.
"I came here for work experience when I was 15 and I also did my university placement at this branch. We have staff who have been here a long time so I remember them from when I did my work experience," the 32-year-old tells Weekend.
The pet hospital team help animals with life-threatening illnesses or injuries which could include breathing difficulties, broken bones and severe bleeding.
