West Mount Vets - Elland

After completing his studies in London's Royal Veterinary College in 1995 Chris took up the vacancy with the practice. Since moving to the area Chris and his wife Caroline have settled near Ripponden with their three flat-coated retrievers and rescue cat 'Sugar'. Caroline is also a vet and works in this practice.

Chris is the practice 'webmaster' and his main areas of interest are knee surgery and radiology.

When not at work Chris & Caroline enjoy the Pennine countryside and working with their dogs - and what better way to combine the two than to walk The Pennine Way, an ambition fulfilled in 2000. Other long distance walks completed more recently include the Cumbria Way and the Inca Trail, in the Peruvian Andes

Caroline graduated from the Royal Veterinary College, London in 1995 and joined the practice in 1999 - working part-time. She mainly works at the Elland branch with her husband Chris and also does occasional surgeries at all our other branches. They have three flat-coated retrievers, a cat, some chickens and few pond fish.

Caroline's hobbies include walking, cycling and gundog training and showing.

My career with Holborow and Tapsfield (now West Mount Vets)began  in 1987 at the Gibbet Street surgery which evokes some lovely memories. 

I was fortunate to be involved in the practice development with the opening of Elland and then Paddock surgery, and then the move and expansion to our  premises in 1997 at Pellon Lane which was an exciting move forward.

I began my Veterinary Nursing training at Myerscough College, Preston in 1996 where I was the oldest student but fotunately qualified in 2000.

I have worked at the Halifax, Paddock and Hebden Bridge surgeries before moving to work nearer home at the Elland surgery in 2005 where I feel very "at home".

I have taken further courses in physiotherapy, animal behaviour, pet nutrition, dentistry and have enjoyed been able to attend veterinary congress the most memorable being The World Veterinary Congress in Orlando, Florida.

I have a couple of pets - a noisy German Shepherd, 'Maddie' - who keeps me on my toes, and a young cat 'Darcy' who has a the unfortunate reputation of being a good hunter, despite a large noisy bell!

Kathy has worked in a number of veterinary surgeries as far apart as Lincolnshire and Sydney, Australia.

She has now been with this practice for over eight years and we were delighted when she qualified as a Veterinary Nurse in 2009.

Outside work Kathy enjoys looking after her cats, birds and her Golden Retriever puppy. She is also a supporter of Lincoln City Football Club.

I have been with the practice since November 2005 I previously worked for another practice for a year. I have a zoology degree. I have a 2 year old daughter called Dylan and 2 GSDs Mia 7yrs and Elvis 3yrs. I enjoy reading, travelling and going to the cinema