First paws through the doors at our new £2.4 million ‘Pet Wellbeing Centre’

09 October 2019

Hero Manchester hound Mojo officially opens new PDSA Pet Hospital

Yesterday we welcomed the first pet patients to our new Pet Wellbeing Centre in Gorton, Manchester.

Our vet staff were joined by hero Police Dog and PDSA Order of Merit recipient Mojo*, and his owner Phil Healy, who officially cut the ribbon to open the Manchester PDSA Pet Wellbeing Centre, The Montague-Panton Hospital.

PDSA’s Director General, Jan McLoughlin, and Chair, John Smith, along with supporters and guests, attended the state-of-the-art hospital, located on Redgate Lane, to meet the first animals to be treated.

Discussing the opening Jan said: “PDSA has been treating poorly pets in and around Manchester since 1925, so today is a true milestone for us. I’m thrilled to be here with the local team and Mojo to mark this special occasion.

“Our services are a vital lifeline for owners struggling to provide care for their pets. It is incredible to be see the new Manchester Pet Wellbeing Centre open and welcoming patients”

Rachel Smith, Senior Vet at our new Wellbeing Centre, said: “It’s great to finally be here. The Old Trafford hospital holds lots of memories, and helped so many pets and people over the years, so the team were sad to leave. But we are really excited to finally open the doors of this fabulous new facility.

“The space and equipment will allow us to do more than just treat animals – we want to become the heart of the Manchester pet community: somewhere people can come for advice and guidance on how to keep their best friends happy and healthy.”

The ground-breaking new centre replaces the previous PDSA Pet Hospital on Warwick Road South, Old Trafford; which closed its doors for the final time after 40 years on Friday 4 October.

As our biggest PDSA facility in the country, the new hospital comprises a bigger, brighter waiting area, with separate areas for cats and dogs. This is specifically designed to help make visiting the vet a stress-free experience. It also houses improved kennel facilities to allow pets a more speedy recovery from surgery.

Seven consulting rooms and two dedicated ‘pet MOT’ rooms enable our staff to give more support and education to pets and owners. Other features include two theatres, a diagnostic room, digital x-ray facilities, and more car parking to allow easier access for clients.

It is also our first PDSA hospital to have a shop selling pet products and a community room, which will host classes and activities (starting in November) to engage with schoolchildren and the local community.

Jan McLoughlin continued: “We are so grateful to every single supporter who has donated money to help this new hospital become a reality. And I offer special thanks to the Montague-Panton Trust and players of People’s Postcode Lottery for their generous support.”

Our dedicated team of 36 vets, vet nurses and support staff** in Manchester provide over 78,000 treatments a year and see around 155 pet patients every single day.

The PDSA Pet Wellbeing Centre has been entirely funded by donations and support from members of the public, following an eighteen-month fundraising appeal.