Welcome to Green Vets – York’s independent vet

Green Vets brings traditional family vet values back to the city, with modern facilities and a wealth of veterinary experience.

Many veterinary businesses follow standard formulas dictated by ever-larger corporate structures. In contrast, we are fiercely independent.

We do not have the pressure to deliver ever-increasing returns for external shareholders, and we make our own decisions. This allows us to focus on what really matters: clinical excellence, genuine care for our patients, and creating a great place to work for our staff.

It allows us to invest heavily in our practice with state-of-the-art diagnostic equipment.

We can choose medicines and treatments based on individual patients’ needs, and not on profit.

We nurture  good relationships with our clients, by taking time to talk to them in our standard 20-minute consults, drawing up treatment plans, and building rapport with them. This personalised care, based on a mutual investment in the pet’s health and well-being is a formula that works. Our motto is ‘Healthy Pets – Happy People’ for a good reason.

Environmental sustainability is our thing, and we have built the practice around this principle. Our surgery is vet-designed and has a homely feel with an abundance of natural light and ergonomic workstations.

We take our Green mission seriously with important choices like purchasing all our electricity from suppliers who support the development of renewable energy sources, to the smallest details like our uniforms which are made from plastic bottles recovered from the sea.  We also have the U.K.’s first all-electric veterinary ambulance to reduce our carbon footprint even further. None of these are cheap choices. But we feel that actions speak louder than words.

Why a new vet in York?

Green Vets was the first independent veterinary surgery to open in York for over 15 years.

Like in many other professions, Veterinary surgeries in the UK are increasingly taken over by corporate businesses resulting in an ever declining number of independent local practices. Today, out of all the 14 clinics and branches in the York area, 8 are owned by the same corporate group, and  2 clinics are corporate-branded joint ventures. Before Green Vets opened in 2019, there were only 2 independent veterinary businesses left.

Green Vets is bucking this trend and opened a brand new, independent veterinary surgery in Acomb in 2019. We bring traditional family vet values back to the city, with modern facilities and a wealth of veterinary experience.

Unlike the large corporate-owned clinics, Green Vets is 100% owned by Rob and Anne, a husband and wife team of experienced vets. This setup enables us to re-invest profits in the business without the need to redistribute and drain dividends to external shareholders. It also gives us the opportunity to provide the consistent personalised service that the larger practices find ever harder to deliver. At Green Vets it is possible for your pet to see the same vet every time. This has enormous advantages for continuity of care.

With state-of-the-art diagnostic and surgical facilities, friendly, experienced staff, and ample off-street parking, we offer an outstanding one-stop veterinary care experience.

Green Vets is the first independent veterinary surgery to open in York for over 15 years.

Green Vets – the new independent veterinary surgery in York

 

Veterinary Surgeons

Rob Douwes GPCert(SAS) MRCVS

The founder of Green Vets is Rob Douwes, a veterinary surgeon with over 20 years of experience.

Rob has been practicing veterinary medicine since 1997, of which more than 10 years here in York. He was surgical lead and Director at Tower Vets until 2017 when the practice ceased to be an independent business.

Rob holds a post-graduate certificate in small animal surgery and has extensive experience in soft tissue and orthopedic surgery.
After a short period of working away, he has returned to York to open Green Vets in 2019.

Anne Busch CertAVP(SAM) MRCVS

In April 2019 Anne joined Green Vets as Director and Clinical Lead

After qualifying as a veterinary surgeon in 2009, Anne came to York in 2012 and has worked at Tower Veterinary Group, The Minster Veterinary Practice, and Battleflatts Veterinary Clinic. In 2017 she was awarded the RCVS Certificate in Advanced Veterinary Practice (CertAVP) in small animal medicine. She has an interest in ultrasonography and now has access to our new high-end referral-grade LOGIQ e ultrasound machine. She is much loved by clients and animals alike.

Rob and Anne have 2 dogs, Olivia the Border Collie who can often be seen running around the Kavesmire carrying her frisbee, and Lola the Jack Russel who was rescued by the RSPCA and stayed at Green Vets for a while to recover from her ordeal. More than a year later, she is still here, living her best life with Rob and Anne

Tom Clarke BA VetMB CertVR CertSAS FRCVS

Tom joined us in October 2023 on a part-time basis, helping us with some of the more complex orhopaedic and soft tissue surgical cases. Our patients benefit from his vast 40-year experience in clinical practice, having previously been a partner in a veterinary hospital where he took on surgical and imaging referrals. 

Tom is an Advanced Practitioner in Small Animal Surgery. He holds certificates in Veterinary Radiology and Small Animal Surgery and has been made a Fellow of the Royal College of Veterinary Surgeons, the governing body of the profession, for his meritorious contributions to clinical practice.

Dr Kelsey Dykes BVM BVS MRCVS

Kelsey joined Green Vets in August 2023 as our first new graduate vet.

She has seen practice with us many times when she was still at Nottingham Vet School, and we liked her so much that we asked her to come and work with us as soon as she qualified. 

Kelsey has grown up with all sorts of animals, from chickens, rabbits, hamsters, cats, fish, and even frogs.

At university, she volunteered for a charity that provided free vet care for people living on the streets with their pets and spent her holiday neutering stray cats and dogs in Spain. During COVID, she worked for the York vaccination workforce Nimbus to help vaccinate the community against Coronavirus.

Originally from York, Kelsey is now back on her home turf living with her crested gecko Vinnie, who turned out not to be a boy when she laid an egg a few weeks ago, and her cats Bella, and Sparkie whom she hand-reared from 2 weeks old.

Reception Staff

Debra Andrew

Debbie joined Green Vets in January 2021 and is new to the veterinary industry, having previously worked predominantly in Education and HR.

She has a passion for animals, demonstrated through her voluntary work with the RSPCA and Pets As Therapy. Alfie the cat, whom she adopted from Cats Protection, and Daisy the Labrador got a new playmate when Debbie’s family adopted Mabel the Labrador from the RSPCA.

She recently moved back to Yorkshire after spending several years living overseas.

Michelle Ventress

Michelle joined our team in May 2022

She has previous experience as a Customer Service Advisor for microchipped pets at a local veterinary supply manufacturer. Michelle also previously worked for ten years as a Doctor’s receptionist. She only lives a stone’s throw from the practice, so she never has to leave her cat Darwin for long, and her daily commute is a doddle.

Lynn Coupland

Lynn joined the practice in early 2021. In her spare time, she enjoys days out to the coast and walking her dog Tetley.

Linda Pearson

Linda joined the Green Vets reception team in June 2022.

She has 16 years experience of working in HR and customer-facing roles. Linda is also trained in children’s care, learning, and development. She has over 30 years experience of working with children and vulnerable people, so we feel our clients should be in safe hands.

Karyn Van Mill

Karyn joined the reception team in August 2023. Originally from South Africa, Karyn has spent her whole life around animals. At home, she has Chester the dog, and Charlie the cat, and on the weekend you will find Karyn spending time with the horses she rides.

Karyn has a background in admin and hospitality management which really contributes to her everyday at Green Vets

Helen Hindhaugh

In her spare time, Helen enjoys pottering in the garden and exploring new places with the dogs. She loves sewing, crochet, and baking. She always has a project on the go.

Helen joined us at the reception in July 2023. She has most recently been a teaching assistant, a full-time human and dog mum, and had her own dog-walking business.

She has two grown-up daughters and a teenage son and also has 3 rescue sighthounds. Lime, a Galgo, adopted from a sanctuary in Spain, Lexi, a Saluki, and Aubrey, a lurcher, adopted from the RSPCA.

Nursing Staff

Nena Armistead RVN

Nena joined Green Vets in December 2019. She is back to veterinary nursing after a career break and raising a family.

She has two dogs, Oara and Zoe, who accompany her to work

Jenny Panton NCert(Anaesth) RVN

Jenny joined Green Vets in March 2021 and holds a certificate in Veterinary Anaesthesia

Outside of work, she enjoys a great range of activities, mainly equine; having her own horses with whom she competes. She has a keen passion for a more natural way of horsemanship learning to understand how to better communicate with horses. She also enjoys lots of outdoor activities like walking, mountaineering, climbing, bouldering, running swimming, cycling and generally keeping fit. When not doing all this her three cats keep her very occupied.

Marshall Gibson SVN

Marshall joined Green Vets at the end of 2020 after previously volunteering and working with the RSPCA as an animal carer. There he adopted Churro, whom he and his family initially fostered as a puppy. As well as dogs, Marshall also keeps a royal python and a leopard gecko, after he developed a childhood interest in reptiles. He is now training as an SVN.

Erin Knott SVN

Erin is our newest student at Green Vets. She has a huge passion for small animals and exotics. She is currently enrolled with the College of Animal Welfare in Leeds, doing the level 3 diploma in Veterinary Nursing, companion animals. She enjoys looking after all of our furry friends whilst they are in surgery, and during their recovery. She is passionate about the care of our furry friends and understanding their individual needs. She has a huge soft spot for Labradors and Border Collies. Her Labrador Gina, who is 12, loves an adventure and snuggling under a blanket in the evenings.

Animal Care Assistants

Gerda Belonozko

Gerda has been with us since June 2022. She is a dedicated animal care assistant, enrolled in the level 2 animal care apprenticeship at the College of Animal Welfare. Gerda has a passion for animal welfare, and her ambition is to take the next step in her career by pursuing veterinary nursing. With a solid background in patient care and a deep love for our furry companions, she is committed to providing top-notch healthcare to animals in need. 

In 2017 Gerda rescued a toy poodle called Oscar who now enjoys a good hike and a human bed.  

Alice Benfield

Alice has been with us since August 2022, when she started her level 2 animal care apprenticeship at the College of Animal Welfare. She has a passion for animal welfare, and her next exciting step is to take on a career in veterinary nursing. She enjoys caring for our in-patients and has a deep love for all furry companions. She is committed to providing the best quality care possible for all animals entrusted to our care. She enjoys being part of a team that excels in providing the best care possible to all our furry friends. She loves assisting in nurse consults too, where she feels she can bond with both clients and their pets. 

She adores English bull terriers of whom she has two, Dottie and Rosie.

Maria Marshall

Maria graduated from the Guildhall School of Music and Drama in 2020. She started in the veterinary sector in London in 2021, first as a receptionist and later as a veterinary care assistant. From October 2023 she will be employed with Green Vets, predominantly as ACA but will be helping us with administrative duties too.
Her favourite animals are King Charles Cavaliers, Black domestic shorthairs, and Guinea pigs.