Pet Doctors Help Cassie Win Wheels for Hospice

A Christmas raffle held by the Pet Doctors Animal Hospital in Newport in aid of the ‘Cassie’s Wheels’ appeal for the Earl Mountbatten Hospice has raised £109. The appeal, launched by Jillie Wheeler from Bembridge with the help of Cassie, her six year old black German Shepherd dog, aims to raise £12,500 to fund a specially adapted vehicle to be used by nurses in the ‘Hospice@Home’ team.

Pet Doctors, which is based at Newport and has branches at Ryde, Lake and Cowes, has also announced that the Earl Mountbatten Hospice, will be its charity of the year in 2010. The Hospice cares for around 800 patients facing life-threatening conditions every year.

According to Jayne Merryweather, vet nurse at Pet Doctors in Newport, the Cassie’s Wheels Christmas raffle received enthusiastic support from owners and friends of patients visiting the animal hospital during December and featured prizes donated by local businesses, including a pamper hamper and a beautiful collectors teddy bear.

Cassie, a Pet Doctors’ patient herself and who is well-known for her support for charities across the Island, visited the hospital on 21 December 2009 to help vet Neil Phillips make the prize draw.

Commenting on Pet Doctors’ support for the Earl Mountbatten Hospice, Jayne said: “The dedicated service provided by staff at the Hospice is amazing and gives hope and support to patients and their families in their darkest hours.  We were delighted to raise funds for Cassie’s Wheels and look forward to raising more for the Hospice during 2010.”

Lisa Burt, Appeals Officer at the Hospice, added: “Our Hospice@Home team cares for patients in their own homes at the end of their lives. They have to transport a great deal of highly specialised equipment with them on their visits and it is difficult to do this in an ordinary car so the availability of a specially converted vehicle will improve the level of care they can provide.

We’re so grateful to Jillie and to Cassie, of course, for getting the appeal underway and hope to be able to take delivery of our vehicle in the Spring.

Finally, of course, we’d like to thank supporters such as the team at Pet Doctors who do so much to help us sustain our vital service.”

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