Veterinary practices are essentially small businesses like any other. We therefore need paying for the services that we offer - that's how we earn our living. It's not a hobby, and we aren't charities. The standard to which we have to practice is ever increasing at the instigation of the Royal College of Veterinary Surgeons, who are acting, so they tell us, for the public good in response to public pressure. So be it, but costs will continue to rise as a result.

We strongly recommend pet insurance, and advise all our clients to take it out. (No - we don't get any commission!)

Cash flow is important to us as small businesses, as most of what goes to make up the fees (drugs, rent, rates, staff wages etc) is paid in advance, or very soon after a fee generating procedure is performed. We therefore ask for payment at the time. We do not send accounts, and if forced to, we will charge you for it!

We do however take all major credit and debit cards.

We are not licensed to give credit, so please don't ask. We have a very good arrangement with our bank - they have agreed not to spay cats if we don't try to lend money!

In certain circumstances we can recover monies for insured animals direct from the insurance company, but, to be honest, some of them are so tardy with payment, trying every excuse in the book (including sending unsigned cheques!) to delay payment, that for some we've stopped doing it.

So, please don't turn up at the surgery demanding thousands of pounds worth of the best treatment we can provide with no visible means or intention of paying for it, and wondering why, even though we are "supposed to love animals" that we cannot help. Please do not put us in the position of having to euthanase animals with treatable conditions because you have not fulfilled your obligations to them to provide for their care.