The Burgess Excel Vet Awards celebrate veterinary practices and individuals who work tirelessly to improve the lives of the UK’s pet rabbits and guinea pigs.

The awards celebrate veterinary practices and individuals championing rabbit and guinea pig welfare.

Nominees for the 2022 Burgess Excel Vet Awards, which champion rabbit and guinea pig welfare, have been announced.

The shortlist for the third year of the awards sees 31 nominees across seven categories, including veterinary nurses, students and support staff.

With an 'overwhelming' number of entries received, finalists were chosen by an expert panel including exotics expert John Chitty, Rabbit Awareness Action Group spokesperson, Dr Suzanne Moyes, and Rae Walters, director of the Rabbit Welfare Association & Fund (RWAF).

The Burgess Excel Vet Awards celebrate veterinary practices and individuals who work tirelessly to improve the lives of the UK’s pet rabbits and guinea pigs. 

When drawing up the list of finalists, judges considered different criteria for each category, with a particular focus on those individuals and practices capable of demonstrating exceptional knowledge of rabbit and guinea pig care and husbandry; of providing first-class care and attention to owners and their pets; and evidence of having gone beyond expectations to improve the lives of rabbits and guinea pigs. 

Dr Suzanne Moyes said: “Since the launch of the Burgess Excel Vet Awards in 2020 they have gone from strength to strength and once again, we have been overwhelmed with the quality and number of entries we have received.

"It’s been fantastic to read so many examples of those working in the veterinary community who are often going that extra mile to take care of the UK’s rabbits and guinea pigs”

The full list of nominees is as follows:

Rabbit Vet of the Year
Dr Madonna Livingstone, Ark Veterinary Clinic, Coatbridge
Dr Amy Reynolds, Highcroft Vet Group, Bristol
Dr Jenna Richardson, Royal (Dick) School of Veterinary Studies, Edinburgh
Dr Molly Varga Smith, Rutland House Exotics, St Helens
Dr Heather Westron, Alma Veterinary Surgery, Scarborough

Rabbit Vet Nurse of the Year
Heidi Barringer, Woodgreen Pets Charity, Godmanchester
Laura Chivers, Plymouth Veterinary Group, Plymouth
Sophie Enticknap, Vets4Pets, Hayling Island
Emma Jeffrey, Galedin Vets, Berwick-upon-Tweed
Abi Nell, Mill House Vets, Kings Lynn

Rabbit-friendly Veterinary Practice of the Year
Ashleigh Vets, Manchester
Origin Vets Clinic, Cardiff
Suffolk Exotic Vets, Wangford, Suffolk
Valley Exotics, Cardiff
Westfield Vets, Wells

Rabbit Support Staff of the Year
Paiton Barker, Woodgreen Pets Charity, Godmanchester
Jo Hambling, Suffolk Exotic Vets, Wangford, Suffolk
Khloe McNeill, Braid Vets, Edinburgh
Carly Sedgemore, Bridges Vets, Cardiff
Sophie Staniland, Valley Vet Hospital, Cardiff

Rabbit Student of the Year
Marie Jackson, Royal Veterinary College, London
Joshua Sancho, Blue Cross Animal Hospital, London
Rabbit Awareness Week (RAW) Campaign of the Year
Mill House Vets, Kings Lynn
Medivet, Burton-on-Trent
Plymouth Vet Group, Plymouth
Suffolk Exotic Vets, Wangford, Suffolk

Guinea Pig-friendly Veterinary Practice of the Year
Arun Vet Group, Chichester
Derwent Valley Vets, Matlock
Holly House Vets, Leeds
Westfield Vets, Wells
Woodlands Veterinary Group, Ivybridge

Winners will be announced at the end of November on the Burgess Pet Care website and social media platforms, with £250 and a trophy awarded in each category. For more information, visit burgesspetcare.com