Primary Care team
Willows has been looking after the pets belonging to local pet owners since the business was started in 1989. We take pride in giving the best possible service that we can to our local clients, and our general practice vets are totally committed to looking after the patients under their care.
Sally Hutton
BVMS CertSAM MRCVS
General Practice Service Clinician
Sally graduated from the University of Glasgow in 1997 and has eleven years experience of working in general practice. She worked for three years in mixed practice in Dorset followed by three years in a busy small animal hospital in Sussex where she ran one of the four branch surgeries.
Sally then spent six months in Central America working with Raleigh International (a youth development charity) before returning to England and working as a locum for eighteen months. During this time, she spent seven months working at Willows.
After her period of locum work Sally worked for three years in the first opinion small animal practice at Bristol University's Veterinary School. This role involved supervising and teaching final year veterinary students in all aspects of first opinion practice, from consulting to surgery.
Sally has a particular interest in canine and feline medicine and in 2008; she gained her Royal College of Veterinary Surgeons Certificate in Small Animal Medicine.
Sally is originally from the Midlands and she saw practice at Willows as a final year veterinary student. Having also worked as a locum for Willows in 2004 she is very happy to have now renewed her association with the practice by returning as a full time clinician in the general practice service.
Sally has a lovely 12 year old cross breed dog called "Tess" who has been with her since her first job in practice. In November 2008, she adopted "Bertie" - an elderly stray cat with terrible dental disease who has blossomed since having all of his rotten molar teeth extracted!
Noella Cooper
BVSc CertSAM MRCVS
General Practice Service Clinician
Noella wanted to be a vet from the age of five. As a child she kept a menagerie to rival that of Gerald Durrell including four cats, five rabbits, four guinea pigs and three tortoises. Noella graduated from the University of Bristol in 1999 and spent a year in mixed practice in Dorset. After spending a large amount of time getting lost in the Dorset countryside she decided that map reading and large animal work was not for her and she joined a busy small animal practice in Berkshire. Noella worked there for ten years, gaining a wealth of experience in all aspects of veterinary medicine. Noella completed the Royal College certificate in small animal medicine in 2009. Having been a rabbit owner herself for many years she also enjoys all aspects of rabbit medicine.
In February 2010 Noella spent six weeks as a volunteer on a wildlife reserve in South Africa, collecting data and helping to treat injured animals, including cheetahs. Having narrowly escaped being eaten by a lion, she joined Willows in September of this year.
Noella has two naughty cats - Rosie, an eleven year old tortoise shell who she adopted from the Cats Protection League when she first graduated and Ivan a seven year old fluffy black cat who gives her Dyson hoover a regular work out.
In her spare time Noella enjoys rowing on the river Avon, but at five foot three she has no aspirations to participate in the Olympics. Noella also makes a very good sticky toffee pudding.
Laura Shaw
BVSc MRCVS
General Practice Service Clinician
Laura graduated from Bristol Veterinary School in 2000 and spent her first 18 months in a lovely mixed practice in Surrey. This was followed by a further 18 month period in an exclusively small animal practice in Hampshire, which led to her developing an increasing interest in small animal medicine. Laura then had the opportunity to travel to and live in New Zealand where she undertook locum work in Christchurch in the South Island. This was a wonderful opportunity, as she was able to work in a variety of clinical situations, developing both her clinical and personal skills.
On her return to the UK, Laura worked in a small animal hospital in North Yorkshire. Here she managed the nursing team, in addition to carrying out her clinical responsibilities as a vet. The practice was heavily involved in the 'Petsmile' scheme which added to Laura's growing interest in preventative health issues.
Laura joined the primary care veterinary team at Willows in January 2007 but recently went on maternity leave following the birth of her baby girl. Laura is now back on the team and keen to catch up with her old clients and make use of Willows' superb new facilities.
Laura has a cat called Maverick (a second-hand and slightly disabled moggy!) and a dog called Goose, who is a lovable Border cross Lakeland terrier.
