Television personality Carol Smillie got behind the wheel of a JCB to help kick off construction work on the University of Glasgow’s new Small Animal Hospital.

The former Changing Rooms star performed the official ground-breaking ceremony at the site of the £10million state-of-the-art hospital.

Carol took on the construction role as a thank you to the University of Glasgow vets who have been treating her dog, Meg, who has cancer.

Her pet had one of its back legs amputated as part of its treatment.

She said: “The vets at the Small Animal Hospital are both skilled and caring. The attention and treatment they have given Meg has been fantastic – we couldn’t ask for anything more.

“The new Small Animal Hospital will be a wonderful facility for animals from across Scotland and I am delighted to have been invited to cut the first sod.

“The fundraising campaign is still going on and I would urge anyone who cares about the welfare of animals to make a donation.”

The University of Glasgow's Faculty of Veterinary Medicine is raising funds to build the new hospital, which will provide 21st century care to patients and the best possible teaching environment for students.

It will offer new services such as a cancer centre, to treat the growing number of animals suffering from the disease. There will also be a pain and rehabilitation centre which will help animals recover from injury and improve the quality of life of those pets suffering from chronic pain.
 
The hospital, which will stand in the Garscube Estate in Bearsden, is due for completion by the end of 2008.
The current Small Animal Hospital treats more than 9000 cases each year as well as providing a referral service to veterinary general practitioners.

First published: 22 August 2007

<< August