A SOLIHULL veterinary practice is celebrating a 90 years of caring for pets and animals across the region.
Linnaeus-owned 608 Vets, which has surgeries in Solihull, Bentley Heath and Acocks Green, was founded in September 1932 by newly-qualified vet Sydney Jennings, the son of a Warwickshire farmer.
608 Vets lead clinical director Roshni Hothi said: “We are very proud to have served the community here for nine decades and, while many things have changed over the years, our interests are still firmly directed to the care of our community’s pets.
“Much of our work is based on maintaining pets in good health on the basis that prevention is better than cure.”
Sydney Jennings created the business when he signed a lease for Yew Tree House at 10 Wilson’s Road in Knowle and ran the business until 1945, when he handed over the reins to fellow vet Alan Foster, who had joined the practice five years earlier.
In 1951, Alan moved the business to its current location at 608 Warwick Road, Solihull, with the house number acting as future inspiration for a change of name.
Roshni added: “John was one of the very first veterinary ophthalmologists and his skills produced a significant number of referrals for the practice.
“What’s more, veterinary textbooks belonging to Sydney, Alan and John are still in the practice in our collection of historical books.”
In its more recent past, the large and small animal practices separated in 2011 with Robin Bone, Lesley Wilson, Deborah Hope and Graham Connan continuing as partners of 608 Vet Practice.
Robin first joined 608 in 1985 and retired earlier this year after almost four decades as a vet.
He said at the time: “Being a vet has been such a great career, despite the long hours and some stressful, challenging situations and cases.
“I always enjoyed being involved in the management of the practice. It added variety to my day to deal with other issues such as supporting veterinary colleagues, surgery property improvements, health and safety, ideas for new equipment and nurse training – I was an assessor for many years.”
To find out more about 608 Vets, visit www.608vets.com or search for 608 Vets on social media.
