Eastgate Veterinary Group (EVG) in Bury St Edmunds treated an unusual patient earlier this month after a little girl’s favourite toy animal started to look a little worse for wear.
Sammy Loveridge contacted the practice for help after her three-year-old daughter Amelie refused to let her replace a soft toy cat when it began to fall apart.
She explained: “Amelie has had ‘Cat’ since she was born and drags it everywhere. She doesn’t even like me washing it. She was adamant she didn’t want a new one, then walking past the vets everyday gave me an idea.”
Ms Loveridge, who lives in Cotton Lane, called EVG and asked if they would help with a plan to give the toy a ‘special make-over’.
Head receptionist Kirsty Thomson said: “We have never done anything like it before.They came in and I spoke to Amelie about Cat and explained what we do here at the vets. Then I said Cat was looking a bit dirty and did she think maybe we could take her through for a little wash and brush. She was fine with that so we did a quick transfer of bags so I had new Cat with me too, then I took them both through to theatre. We sprayed the new one with some dry shampoo so it smelled nice and dampened it down a bit so it looked like it had been in the bath, then wrapped it in a towel and took it back through.”
Ms Loveridge said: “There was a brief pause when we didn’t know if the plan had worked, then Amelie said ‘her nose is so sparkly’. Fortunately the toy was from the JellyCat range so it was easy to get a duplicate.”
EVG made no charge but the family made a donation to Bury’s Stray Cat Fund.
The original Cat is now in a memory box.
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