Vets turn focus on to saving human lives
Bid to install vital defibrillator for use at retail park
An Ayr vets wants to help save the lives of humans after a decade treating the town’s pets.
Vets4Pets has launched a bid to install a new defibrillator as they celebrate 10 years mending broken paws.
The veterinary centre based at the Allison Street retail park toasted their milestone birthday as they coined it in for a lifesaving device which will be available to the public.
The team hope they can make the retail park which is shared with eight other businesses including a sunbed shop, Lidl Pets at Home and Domino’s safer for shoppers.
And the fundraiser will hit close to home with one of their own, an 18-year-old veterinary assistant, collapsing at work just months ago.
The colleague lives with a heart condition and suffered an irregular rhythm before becoming unwell.
Although it wasn’t serious, for staff at the centre it really reaffirmed the need for a defibrillator.
Vets4Pets manager Laura McCrorie told Ayrshire Live: “Every year we try and do something different when our birthday comes round.
“With it being our tenth anniversary we wanted to give something back to the community.
“A defibrillator will be essential to saving lives.
“One of our colleagues from Georgia has a heart condition.
“They collapsed in October, it wasn’t that serious but it really hit home for us. What would happen if someone did collapse in the building, we could only do so much for them here.
“We are used to dealing with all types of emergencies but was really scary seeing a colleague like that.
“We want to provide something for the community that if anyone does need it there is something in here that they can use.
“Something like a cardiac arrest could just happen to anyone at anytime.
“There are eight other retailers here and its a central location in the town, we really think it would be beneficial for the community.”
An online fundraising page was launched with a target of £2,000.
Vets4Pets were able to raise £500 as they held their 10th birthday celebrations on Saturday, December 18.
Laura who has worked at Vets4Pets for four years added: “Any extras we raise will be
donated to the British Heart Foundation.
“Everyone in here has got someone in their family with serious heart problems.
“We are all just one big family so we wanted to look after
our own this year after years supporting animal charities and looking after pets.”
To donate to the cause, visit https://www.gofundme.com/f/ dhpvn6-defibrillator-for-thecommunity?