A DARING trio have put their life savings into a new mobile vet service.
Matt and Vicki Sanford, along with their business partner Kate Grayer, have kitted out a six-metre long van as a mobile veterinary centre, equipped for blood tests, treatment and some surgery.
Under the banner of Hillside Mobile Vets, vet Mr Sanford and nurse Ms Grayer will take treatment to ill pets within a ten-mile radius of Redhill, where the Sanfords live.
Mrs Sanford, who is the business manager, said: "Cats can't bear going to the vets, some dogs also can't stand it and will cower in the corner.
"The stress for animals and owners can be huge but with this there is no sitting in the waiting room."
The van's wheels hit the road on Monday last week and the pair have been operating out of a car since the middle of last month.
But since the plan was first hatched ten months ago, it has been a huge undertaking for the trio.
Mr and Mrs Sanford have juggled launching the business with bringing up their three children, aged three, eight and nine, as well as Mrs Sanford working four days a week as an accountant and business manager.
"We have all put everything we have into this," she told the Mirror.
"We have risked everything. So we really want this to be a success."
Though they have an arrangement with a veterinary surgery in Reigate for cases requiring an overnight stay, the Hillside Vets van is kitted out for most eventualities.
"The van is pretty impressive. You wouldn't believe how big it is inside. We have an onboard lab and a fridge to store blood samples," Mrs Sanford said.
"We can do tests there and then."
Now they are on the road, Mr Sanford and Ms Grayer visit their clients at set appointments and see all animals except horses, which they leave to equine specialists.
"Matt visited a client on their lunch break today," Mrs Sanford said.
"The feedback is amazing, people love it."
For information visit www.hill sidemobilevets.co.uk
