Ayrshire vet saved from closure at last minute

An Ayrshire veterinary practice has been saved from closure at the last minute as a new vet is set to take over.

Vivien Davison, who opened Exclusively Cats Veterinary Centre in Ayr in October 2002, announced her decision to retire after 46 years as a vet in April.

She has been searching for another vet to take over the practice for the last eight years and it looked like her search may have remained fruitless with the centre due to close in July.

However, at the eleventh hour, Dr Steven Crowe has stepped up to fill the void and ensure the practice can continue to look after cats from the west of Scotland.

Vivien, 67, was relieved to be able to tell her loyal clients, many of whom have become friends over the last 22 years, that the practice would remain open.

She said: “Everybody is overjoyed, it is a real answer to prayers. It’s just been a real happy time to find someone to take over.

“We have got a large clientele, they are really lovely clients with wonderful cats. We’ve been looking for a vet to come for a long time but we hadn’t had any success. I’d kept doing an extra year and an extra year but I thought I had to eventually retire at some point.

“We’ve been able to help a lot of cats here, we’ve got intensive care facilities and emergency facilities and a lot of expertise. It was going to be a difficult situation.

“Different vets had come forward but they hadn’t come and taken over. We said the surgery would close at the end of June but, finally, in this last month a lovely vet, Steven, has come forward.

“His partner is also a vet and she is also going to help take over the surgery.”

It was a tough decision for Vivien to retire as she knew how difficult it was to find a replacement vet. However, with her love for the job, she kept going for as long as she could.

She added: “We made it known that I was going to retire and that the surgery would have to close. A lot of clients were coming in in floods of tears and we had a lot of messages to say how upset people were.

“I was due to retire eight years ago but I kept doing an extra year. I do love my work, I always have. Looking after the cats has been very special but I’ve been working day and night so I thought it really is time to retire.

“I’ve been working as a vet for 46 years, 24 in general practice and 22 feline only. The feline only practice has been an especially happy time in my veterinary life.

“I’ve loved every minute, looked forward to coming to work every day and the clients have been a very special part of my life. They have become friends over the years.”

Vivien is grateful to everyone who worked with her over the past two decades and she is also hopeful for the future of Exclusively Cats under new management.

She said: “The new vets coming in are younger, full of enthusiasm and full of energy. They remind me of my younger self. They have lots of good ideas for the surgery and lots of plans.

“The staff have all been very dedicated to the cats, they are going to stay on. They love the cats and turn out day and night to care for them. I couldn’t have nicer staff.

“I’d like to thank everybody for their very kind wishes. We’ve had a lot of lovely messages and they mean a lot to me.”

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