by Don Keely

(Note: This is part of the unpublished material I collected for my article 
"A Day in the Life of Our New Vet" that appeared in Feast Magazine, July 2006.  - D.K.)

Paula Dean BVSc MRCVS, owner of Hollyoak Vets, has had animals around from her earliest memories. The one's shown in the photos to the right are the current set. To learn more about how each of them came to live with the vet, just click on their photo. But before you go off, I thought you would like to hear a bit more about this remarkable vet and how she grew up loving animals.

It's Mum's Fault!

Paula's mum had a passion for animals. Strays, rescues, and temporary borders were all part of Paula's early life. Her exposure to animals didn't stop with these ordinary domestic types either. Her mum knew most of the animal keepers at London Zoo. So Sunday's were usually spent behind the scenes, in the cages, with many of the zoo's varied species. This was back in the 'good ole days' before health and safety laws!

'I Told You So ...'

Paula told me:

“I can remember my father coming to the zoo with us one Sunday. He was rather 'proper' when it came to attire and wouldn't go anywhere without a suit. My mum warned him: don't wear a tie to the zoo, dear. But, he wouldn't listen to her. The spider monkeys loved him! The poor man. He became their newest amusement, swinging back and forth on that tie. It took two zookeepers to rescue him.  My mum could have helped, but she was doubled up with laughter. 'I told you, dear!'.”

Animals Everywhere!

So, it's hardly surprising that Paula knew from an early age that she was going to be a vet! Over the years she has had an amazing variety of animals of all types: lots of dogs, cats and rabbits, snakes, ferrets, parrots, hamsters, gerbils, stick insects (!) and a pond full of fish.

And in her professional life she's not only treated all of these 'normal' pets but also their wilder cousins: capibara, guenaco (a member of the camel/lama family), a squirrel monkey (named vampira – a name which really fit), cockatiels, swans, ducks, geese, moorhens, herons, crows, kestrals, buzzards, owls, bats, rats, mice, badgers, foxes, sheep and deers.

One of her most unusual patients was a tint newt brought in by a construction worker. It was unable to walk, and after a brief examination Paula determined that it's shoulder had been dislocated. With careful manipulation, she was able to pop the leg back into it's socket! The newt was walking again, and the construction worker returned it to the wild.

It's Not a Job, for Paula!

One morning I was sitting in Hollyoak's spacious waiting room when a client walked in with her cat. She told me: “There's something very different at this surgery. The people here genuinely love animals.” I guess that about sums it up, and yet there's so much behind that simple statement. I chatted with Paula a while later and mentioned what the woman told me. A little smile appeared on her face and then she said: “We try to do our very best for every patient. We do love animals, that's why we are here.”

A Personal Note (from Don Keely)

What impressed me most was how patient and understanding the entire hand-picked staff is at Hollyoak. They are the ultimate no-nonsense professionals when it comes to clinical practice. And, they have some of the best technology available as you can see from their web pages 'tour'.

But, what really separates them from the pack, what really makes them stand head and shoulders above the rest, is that sincere, heartfelt dedication to the well being of all animals.

I hope they serve as shining examples to vets everywhere of how a practice should be run.