Sunday Mail (UK)

ANIMAL LOVER ON HER DREAM JOB IN ONE OF THE MO

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And she helped a distressed ewe deliver twin lambs in a car park at the side of the road.

It’s all part of life as a vet in one of the most remote parts of the UK.

As one of only two vets covering the islands of North and South Uist, Benbecula, Berneray and Barra, Ealasaid’s job is not for the faint-hearted – especially in winter – but she would not have it any other way.

Having grown up in Newton on North Uist, the 28-year-old was determined to return to the islands to practise after graduating from The Royal (Dick) School of Veterinary Studies in Edinburgh in 2014.

Ealasaid, who is one of the stars of BBC Alba series Vets: Gach Creutair Beò, said: “I feel very fortunate. I have my dream job. I am a vet in the most beautiful place in the world.

“The landscape, the people and the animals make it. I can’t imagine doing this anywhere else. There’s not many practices where you get to treat a pet guinea pig or bearded dragon one day before going on to rescue an orphaned seal pup the next.

“I get to work with family pets, large farm animals and all sorts of wildlife, including seals, corncrakes, oyster catchers, puffins and hedgehogs – what’s not to like?”

Ealasaid, who works for the Southern Isles Veterinary Practice, which is based on Benbecula, added: “My colleague Peter Buckland can do in excess of 150 miles a day and, yes, we often have to take the ferry over to Barra but I wouldn’t change a thing, except maybe the bad winter weather.

“I always wanted to be a vet. I decided that is what I was going to be when I was five and I never grew out of it.

“To me, being a vet is not a job, it is a vocation and one I feel incredibly honoured to have.

“I never watched vet shows when

I was a child but people often liken what I do to Al Small – maybe I wil some day.”

Ealasaid, who keeps sheep on her coastal the animals she love care for them.

She said: “The conn and their animals is it a child with their po with an injured cow

“Seeing the pain o who thinks their dog i their relief as I tell the it is just the best. Anim they are loved and va

“One of the best ex our clients, Melanie M a 540-mile round tri Norman after s about se “Sh af w o

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Ealasaid delivers lambs in car park in Benbecula
ANIMAL in MAGIC Ealasaid Edinburgh studied the but returned islands, left, home to to practise as a vet
RESCUE Ealasaid delivers lambs in car park in Benbecula ANIMAL in MAGIC Ealasaid Edinburgh studied the but returned islands, left, home to to practise as a vet

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