A kind-hearted vet at a Hertfordshire animal hospital is using a novel way to help veterinary colleagues in Lithuania.
Mark Goodfellow, head of oncology at Linnaeus-owned Davies Veterinary Specialists near Hitchin, has organised the collection and delivery of a huge pile of veterinary textbooks to the Baltic state.
He was inspired by the success of a Linnaeus colleague, Indre Petrauske, a surgical intern at Kentdale Referrals in Cumbria, who orchestrated the same goodwill gesture in 2023.
The latest batch of textbooks, weighing 210kg, were donated by colleagues at Davies and laboratory diagnostics and testing experts VPG Hitchin, who are based on the same site.
They have now been delivered to Lithuania University Veterinary Student Society, which is in Indre’s homeland and also where she sent her books.
Mark, an author of many scientific papers and book chapters, said: “Indre’s story inspired me to arrange for the donation of these veterinary textbooks, which have found a new home 1,000 miles away.
“I hope they will help newly graduated veterinary professionals in Lithuania to progress their knowledge and understanding to the benefit of their patients.”
Speaking at the time of the first book donation to Lithuania, Indre said: “It might not be a surprise that they struggle a lot. They told me that even ordering veterinary books in English is a challenging task as international shipping is a long and complex process that adds significantly to the price of already expensive textbooks.”
Mark, who joined Davies in 2011 and is an RCVS specialist in oncology, added: “My thanks go to colleagues at Davies and VPG Hitchin who donated all the books. It’s been a great team effort all round.”
For more information about Davies and the wide range of specialist-led services it offers, visit the website or search for them on Facebook or LinkedIn.
For more information on Kentdale Referrals, visit the website or search for Kentdale Referrals on social media.
