Vet practice hailed as 'the Savoy of the pet world'

A veterinary practice with a branch in Tyldesley has been describe themselves as 'the Savoy of the pet world'. Independent and family-owned group, Harrison Family Vets, launched in the UK in 2021, also has with branches also in Reading, Kingswinford, Didsbury, Stockton, Armthorpe, and Middleton. Managing director, Tim Harrison, said: "We are really pushing the boundaries when it comes to delivering ultimate comfort and the very best five-star experience for pets visiting our practices.

"Every pet visiting us for an appointment or staying with us for an operation receives the VIP treatment from the moment they walk through the door." One of Harrison Family Vets’ clients enjoy the grass topped weighing scales (Image: Mick Massey) He said they complete a 'pre-treatment questionnaire' to find out everything about visiting pets, from their preferred treats to personality traits. The practice has 'individual dog and cat waiting pods' and weigh-in scales covered in grass so that dogs 'don’t have to stand on a cold weighing scale'.



There are raised shelves in the cat waiting pods, a towel sprayed with pet remedy to cover carry cases, and plans are in place to make the pods even more private with fully closable panelling. For dogs, non-slip mats and cooling mats are used, and wherever possible, they are treated on the floor instead of on a table. Sibling kittens are feeling playful in the cat play zone and Harrison Family Vets (Image: Mick Massey) Mr Harrison said: "The bespoke pods, which give clients their own space and offer pets privacy, shield them from the stresses of facing other pets in a traditional waiting room.

"Our waiting areas also boast lots of other stress-reducing features including specialist lighting, calming white noise sounds, and pheromone-inducing smells that all combine to create the ultimate peaceful environment." He added: "We have gone all out behind the scenes too – even installing en-suite, high-end kennels for cats with a separate toileting area and double suites so family pairs don’t have to be separated." Each kennel has its own mini-speaker to deliver bespoke sounds, and with three different lighting modes - daylight mode to reduce stress, recovery mode to aid undisturbed rest, and cleaning mode to allow precision hygiene cleaning – they create an individual experience for each pet.

He said: "All this ensures our patients don’t feel stressed or anxious when staying with us. "The best hotels have a pillow menu, and we have a treat menu, and our pets love the choices, which include everything from whitebait to liver paste and cheese spread, as well as many more. "All these touches combine to make a real difference, and we have had great feedback from clients, with one comparing us to The Savoy – but without the price tag.

" He said every staff member at Harrison Family Vets is 'fear-free accredited'. Read more: Lucky residents of cul-de-sac win on postcode lottery Burnden Road Runners have a ball at the Wigan Festival Bolton businesses warned about new rules coming in at the end of the month Their Reading practice was the first outside North America to achieve Fear Free Veterinary Practice Certification, and the Kingswinford practice has recently been awarded the accreditation. All practices have been recognised by Dogs Trust and the British Veterinary Behaviour Association (BVBA) for exceptional standards of care provided to dogs.

Harrison Family Vets opened their first practice near Reading in Woodley in July 2021 and plans to open 50 practices by the end of the decade..