WILDLIFE across East Sussex will now benefit from faster treatment and more specialist care, thanks to a major boost at the East Sussex Wildlife Rescue & Ambulance Service (WRAS).
The charity has taken on a second vet, meaning expert care can now be provided seven days a week with on-site hours almost doubled.
WRAS, based at Whitesmith near Hailsham, has long been known for delivering top-quality treatment to injured and orphaned wildlife. But with a small veterinary team, there were times when they had to call on neighbouring practices to meet demand.
The new appointment means a qualified vet will now be available on site every day when needed, reducing the stress for animals that would otherwise have to travel longer distances for treatment.
The charity’s facility is equipped with a recovery room, x-ray suite and small operating theatre, allowing the team to diagnose and treat patients quickly. With more vet cover, WRAS can now handle a wider range of emergencies from road traffic injuries to entanglements and give animals a greater chance of survival.
WRAS Founding Director, Trevor Weeks said: “Over the past 40 years, I’ve witnessed so much heartbreaking suffering of our wildlife. My mission has always been to provide ethical, professional treatment to East Sussex’s wildlife. This new step ensures that – whilst every casualty is always reviewed by a vet when in our care, the speed in which a casualty is reviewed is now considerably quicker —emergencies seen within minutes—marking another major step in reducing wildlife’s suffering.
“Whilst it may only be a small growth in terms of numbers, the skills and opportunities this team expansion brings is immeasurable. We are incredibly proud of our vets, who act as the first line of interaction for many of the casualties that end up at our centre. Remaining cool and calm under pressure, the vets treat each casualty with respect and they always consider the best interests of the animal.
Whilst the vets we have as part of our incredible team may be paid employees, once animals leave the veterinary clinic, they are then cared for by our dedicated team volunteers.”
Should you wish to support WRAS, please consider donating at https://wildlifeambulance.org/donate/. Any donation, however big or small, makes a huge difference, enabling it to purchase essential animal food to aid growth and strength, to specialist medical and animal care equipment.
