Dedicated vet is animal crackers

1:27pm Friday 10th November 2006

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Our final nominated vet for the Kingston Best Vet competition is Jackie Cox from the Hope and Davies Surgery.

Jackie, 41, from Putney, was nominated by Claire Spraggs, who said: "Knowing Jackie is there to help has kept us living in the area and I can't praise her too highly. I only wish I could have my medical treatment there, too."

“Knowing Jackie is there to help has kept us living in the area and I can’t praise her too highly. I only wish I could have my medical treatment there, too.”

Jackie Cox

Born in Leicestershire, Jackie studied for her veterinary degree in Glasgow. She said: "I applied late to universities and Glasgow and Edinburgh were the only unis to offer me a place."

After working at a small animal practice in Essex, Jackie moved to London to work for the RSPCA. She said: "The thing I loved most about that job was the wildlife.

"Inspectors used to bring in badgers and foxes that had been injured, but treating them isn't something I do a lot of now."

After working in Putney for three years, Jackie moved to Hope and Davies in New Malden. "We treat mostly rabbits and dogs. The most exotic cases I get tend to be the iguanas but they are so rare that when they come in we often have to check the medical reference books," she said.

Like most vets, Jackie struggles to stay detached from her work and has two rescued cats at home. She said: "When my last cat died, I didn't plan on replacing her.

"But then these two cats were brought in and I had to have them."

It's a close call for who will win the title. Vying for the lead at the moment are Lucy Hancox from A F O'Meara Practice in Chessington and Sinead Armstrong, from Michael Hamblin Practice in Chessington.

But there is still time for a late rally if you vote for one of our six other nominated vets: Kavit Manro from Henderson, Keywood and Partners in Surbiton, Rob Willingham from Acorn Surgery in Kingston, Nikianna Nicholas from Medivet in Kingston, Peter Melville from Aspen Surgery in Tolworth and Margo Scott or Jackie Cox, both from Hope and Davies Surgery in New Malden.

The closing date for voting is 9am on Monday, November 13.