Helping poor pet owners
For 60 years the PDSA has been providing free veterinary care for sick and injured pets in Croydon.
In 2001 the organisation celebrated the milestone anniversary of its PedAid hospital opening in the borough.
A dispensary was first opened in High Street, Croydon in 1947 and eventually moved to its current purpose built home in Hurst Road in 1975.
On average veterinary staff at Hurst Road see around 57 pet patients every day and perform almost 15,000 procedures annually. Ranging from dental work to major orthopaedic operations.
The PetAid hospital has three consulting rooms, two operating theatres, a dental suite, waiting room, dispensary, separate recovery kennels for cats and dogs and x-ray and isolation facilities.
Senior veterinary surgeon Keith Rooks said: "We are all extremely proud of PDSA's heritage in Croydon. Helping sick and injured pets is always rewarding and we look forward to providing our PetAid services and encouraging responsible pet ownership throughout 2007 and for many years to come."
"The main changes I've seen over the years are that everything's become a lot more professional. We only use veterinary qualified nurses and use lots of the computers and high tech equipment.
"We deal with a variety of cases, some very strange ones. We see a lot of fractures and foreign bodies. Some dogs will eat anything including golf balls. However, recently someone brought a Staffordshire Bull terrier which had eaten a black bra. A nurse recognised the metal clasps and we operated on him to get it out."
Pet owners who receive housing or council tax benefits are eligible for free veterinary care at the PDSA's PetAid Hospital in Hurst Road as long as they live in certain post codes.
The PetAid hospital is now also offering a range of preventive treatments for pets, microchip-ping, vaccinations, neutering, flea and worm treatments and prescription diets are offered at a special price to eligible PDSA clients.
Croydon PDSA PetAid hospital is one of 47 PetAid hospitals across the country providing free veterinary care. This year, the organisation celebrates its 90th anniversary. For further information contact the Croydon hospital on 020 8686 3972.