A girl's best friend: Vet Lucy Hancox with one of her many grateful patients.
Our first nomination for Kingston's Best Vet is Lucy Hancox, a vet at the A F O'Meara Veterinary Practice in Chessington.
Maria Hamilton from Chessington Zoo nominated Lucy for her emergency work at the zoo.
"She is always very helpful and approachable when we call out-of-hours. We know that if we have any problems, they will be dealt with quickly," she said.
Lucy, 34, grew up on a farm in Australia surrounded by animals. "I always wanted to be a vet because of the menagerie of animals we had when I was a child. There were goats, cows and I had a pony as well," she said.
After qualifying as a vet in Sydney, Lucy left to travel around Britain, working as a locum in Suffolk and Surrey. Two years later she met fellow vet and husband-to-be Andy. "I always swore I would never marry a vet. I had intended to go back to Australia but after I met Andy I just ended up staying here for good," she said.
“I always wanted to be a vet because of the menagerie of animals we had when I was a child. There were goats, cows and I had a pony as well.”
Lucy Hancox
Lucy started working full-time at A F O'Meara five years ago.
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She said: "I'm really lucky because I'm the only vet who works at the practice so I get plenty of personal contact with clients and animals."
Both Lucy and Andy are emergency vets for Chessington Zoo. "Although they have a regular zoo vet, they sometimes need one of us out of hours. Andy does most of the exotic work because he has a real passion for it, but I do my bit, including operating on a squirrel monkey, although it wasn't the famous SpongeBob unfortunately."
Lucy spent so much time trying to find out what was wrong with my German Shepherd Tia, and I know that Tia was the cause of conversation at one of Lucy's vet meetings, seeing if anyone else had any ideas how Tia could be sorted out, I am very grateful to Lucy, and thankfully Tia is back up to full health.
Lucy spent so much time trying to find out what was wrong with my German Shepherd Tia, and I know that Tia was the cause of conversation at one of Lucy's vet meetings, seeing if anyone else had any ideas how Tia could be sorted out, I am very grateful to Lucy, and thankfully Tia is back up to full health.
Posted by: Jo Pearson, Surbiton on 3:33pm Tue 18 Sep 07
Lucy has a great bedside manner with our cat Spooky and is always very kind, caring, helpful and a great communicator.
She is the best vet I have encountered.
Lucy has a great bedside manner with our cat Spooky and is always very kind, caring, helpful and a great communicator.
I think Lucie is an amazing vet but has anyone else noticed she says the word fish in a strange way? Sounds like fsh! Always makes me laugh. She's so amazing.
I think Lucie is an amazing vet but has anyone else noticed she says the word fish in a strange way? Sounds like fsh! Always makes me laugh. She's so amazing.
Posted by: Sheila, Chessington on 3:33pm Mon 25 Feb 08
I agree, Lucie is fanatastic and ammazing but also, delightful. Mr Tiddles loves her so much I keep joking that I should give her to her!! I am only friend with people Mr Tiddles approves of!! I would take this oppotunity to say how lucky I (and Mr Tiddles) are to have her in our lives.
I agree, Lucie is fanatastic and ammazing but also, delightful. Mr Tiddles loves her so much I keep joking that I should give her to her!! I am only friend with people Mr Tiddles approves of!! I would take this oppotunity to say how lucky I (and Mr Tiddles) are to have her in our lives.
Posted by: Cheryl, Kingston on 3:43pm Mon 25 Feb 08
Finally the internet has given us a place to congregate and share our love of Lucie. When my hamster (Doris lll) bit Lucie she still treated him with her usual caring, compassionate manner. Sjowing just how [bold]FORGIVING[/bold] she is
Finally the internet has given us a place to congregate and share our love of Lucie. When my hamster (Doris lll) bit Lucie she still treated him with her usual caring, compassionate manner. Sjowing just how FORGIVING she is
Posted by: Annabelle, Surbiton on 3:58pm Mon 25 Feb 08
well Desmond, I'm afraid with 4 dogs, 6 cats, 8 Guinea pigs 9 African Snails and a Bearded dragon, I really don't have enough time to 'interact' with anyone other then my vet (Lucie) and local pet shop!!!!
well Desmond, I'm afraid with 4 dogs, 6 cats, 8 Guinea pigs 9 African Snails and a Bearded dragon, I really don't have enough time to 'interact' with anyone other then my vet (Lucie) and local pet shop!!!!
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