A GENEROUS veterinary practice in Lymm has begun to offer free veterinary care for school pets in the Warrington area.

In an effort to support the local community, Burford Lane Vets has pledged to provide a range of free services, including check-ups and treatments, providing the pet is owned by a local school.

Vet Rachel Dean is at the forefront of the campaign and says that the aim is to reassure anyone who is looking after the class pet over the summer holidays that help is there should problems arise.

However, as long as the pets are registered with the Burford Lane practice, the offer is not constricted to the summer and is available year-long.

When discussing the importance of school pets, Rachel points out that they are valuable in both educating children and protecting their mental health.

“We understand how much joy and support a pet can bring, and we know from the feedback we receive from local primary schools that many children who cannot have a pet at home learn a lot from having a classroom pet,” she said.

“The most popular pets at school tend to be hamsters, rabbits or guinea pigs, and they help to teach children about taking responsibility and the natural world.”

Alongside Rachel, who has been a vet for more than 24 years, Dr Pieter De Villiers, Dr Sean Cleary and head veterinary nurse Gemma Scott all work at Burford Lane Vets.

By philanthropically offering to share their expertise free of charge, the practice stands to strengthen its relationship with the local Lymm community.

Rachel was keen to emphasise this point, adding: “We believe we are the only veterinary practice to provide this free service to school pets.

“We are excited to be leading this initiative and to give as much back to the local community as we can.”