Fourth-years set up homeless dog clinic… but they’re still waiting for their first patient

Nine vet students have set up Glasgow’s first drop-in clinic for homeless dogs.

Ruby Shorrock and her core team of eight held their first official clinic on 1st October, but the team have been working on the project “Trusty Paws” since March 2014.

Ruby said her inspiration for such a clinic actually came from another university: “I saw it on the news back at home, the Nottingham vet school, they set up a clinic for homeless people and their dogs actually with the uni, which is different to us as we are set up apart from the uni.

“I did some research and found some people who work with homeless people and pets etc, and found one in Edinburgh.

“So I thought if there is one in Glasgow, then I’d love to help out, but there wasn’t one, so I thought well I’d have a go’

Despite not being officially affiliated with the uni, Glasgow has been a helping hand: “‘The uni are very supportive of us and our work, but its more public donations that we are relying on.

“For example, our recent coffee morning raised £400, but also donations through Paypal, then people sending second hand supplies, and vet’s sending supplies over.”

Support for the clinic has been overwhelming, both by her fellow students and online. Ruby said: “I’ve had loads of support from peers.

“We have a core committee of eight of us, including fundraising managers etc, so we asked the rest of our year… it was so popular that we ended up pulling names out of a hat, so we have 12 clinics a year, so three or four people per clinic for rotas etc.

“We were overwhelmed by the amount of support from other students.”

And online support has been just as great: “We’ve had no negative feedback. Over 1000 people on Facebook, and so many have followed us on twitter.

“We expected someone to say “oh they shouldn’t have dogs etc” but we have had nothing, just positive feedback.”

It’s not all entirely smooth sailing though. Their first clinic on the 1st October had no visitors. Ruby said: “We totally expected it, it is so difficult to set up something like this, but the trust isn’t there yet.

“However, we got food packs together, which are made up of waterproof bags that you normally take trekking together with your dog, they can take up to 2 kilos of dry dogfood, and we supply them with top ups when they need them.

“Also there is a foldable bowl in each bag. A coat is supplied too that is both waterproof and warm, but if that isn’t available then we will give them a fleece that is warm too to go underneath the coat.”

Ruby and her team have their next clinic on the 5th November.

Check out their f Facebook page, for information on ways to help and donate.