A LEYBURN-BASED veterinary practice established during the pandemic is going from strength to strength.

Wensleydale Vets opened in May 2020 after finding premises for their practice at the Metcalfe family’s business base at Washfold Farm, just outside the Dales town.

Led by Amy Cockett and Becky Piper, the practice prides itself on its independence and determination to remain a mixed practice offering small animal, farm and equine services.

The two vets proudly showed their MP, Rishi Sunak, round the practice and introduced him to their small team.

Becky said she and her colleague had both worked for local vets practices in Yorkshire before meeting and deciding there was a gap in the market for a small, mixed practice.

She said: “We had a vision for a practice which would deal with pretty much any animal and offered a personal service. There is a tendency towards practices amalgamating, becoming part of much bigger groups and focussing their work on one particular species.

“We wanted to be a practice that could treat a family’s dog, their horse and their farm animals and provide continuity of care so that clients would see, wherever possible, the same vet.”

She added that Wensleydale Vets’ personal approach extended to providing 24/7 emergency cover which was not outsourced to another provider.

An innovation for the practice was the establishment of a small adjacent building to carry out procedures on small farm animals capable of being brought in by clients to save on call-out fees.

Rishi Sunak, the MP for Richmond (Yorks), said he had been very impressed by what he had seen and heard about the two vets’ approach to their customers.

“It is encouraging to see a new business become established so quickly and develop its client base on the basis of providing a personal service and one which recognises that for many of us animals – of whatever kind – are such an important part of our lives.