STAFF at veterinary practises in Monmouthshire are on the receiving end of more threats and intimidating behaviour from the public that any other profession outside the emergency services according a new report.

Some 85% of vets and their staff have reported that either they or a colleague have felt intimidated by a client’s language or behaviour, according to the British Veterinary Association.

Those vets who work with companion animals or in a mixed practice are particularly likely to have experienced difficult clients with 89% reporting some form of intimidating experience. Younger staff and female staff were significantly more likely to have experienced abuse.

The survey reveals animal owners’ threatening behaviour is often related to the cost of treatment, with 98% of vets saying that at some time they feel under pressure from clients to waive fees or to accept the promise of late payment.

Abergavenny-born veterinary nurse, Lacey Pitcher states, ‘Sadly this is all true, I personally have experienced verbal abuse and even items thrown at me. After putting so much of my heart into what I do, it’s soul destroying to have to deal with this sort of thing.’

‘The profession is one of the most emotionally challenging you can pick. Mental health is such a huge issue in veterinary practice that a dedicated service has now been set up to help pressurised staff’.

The report went on to highlight social media as a catalyst for the proliferation of abuse, stating, ‘Many misinformed posters assume we are in the business solely to make money. Because of the NHS people in the UK have no real idea how much medicines and medical serves really cost’.

President of the British Veterinary Association, John Fishwick, said, ‘Owning an animal is an important responsibility and, with no NHS for animals, the reality is that keeping a pet will cost tens of thousands of pounds over its lifetime’.

President of the British Veterinary Nursing Association, Sam Morgan, said, ‘We understand there can be a lot of distress when pets are ill, however, this is no excuse to be aggressive or intimidating to a member of the veterinary team.

‘Animal welfare is at the heart of our work and we are always working towards getting the very best possible result for the animal’s health’.