Celebrity vet and animal campaigner Marc Abraham OBE joins The Mewes Vets practice in Sussex
‘Marc the vet’ is a staple of TV, having been resident vet on the Paul O’Grady Show and a regular guest on the BBC, ITV and Sky.
Now, he has found the perfect day job – and a veterinary practice that matches his own beliefs around animal welfare and good service – to balance alongside his charity work, his parliamentary campaigning and media appearances.
This month he starts at The Mewes Vets, which has branches in Rottingdean and Haywards Heath, joining Dr Julia Mewes in her busy community-based independent practice. And it’s that work in the community, and the chance to get back to meeting pets and their owners, which has inspired Marc to join.
Back to his roots
Marc, who lives in Brighton, said: “For a while I have been out of everyday ‘vetting’, and I have really missed that. Partly it was because I am so busy – things like my parliamentary work where I campaign for animal welfare, charity work, and writing books take up a lot of my time.
“But more than that, I am very much against corporate chains in veterinary practice, and was struggling to find somewhere that was the right fit for me. It restricted me from working for many local vet clinics.
“I’ve known Julia for nearly 20 years since I ran the emergency out-of-hours clinic that The Mewes Vets still subscribes to, and I am in awe of what she has created here in Sussex. She embodies everything that matters to me in a veterinary service – in my opinion, the motives of an independent practice are all about benefitting the patient and owner, plus working on the community side. Our values are so aligned!”
Marc says school talks, judging fun dog shows at local fetes and spreading the word about good animal welfare is a crucial part of an independent practice.
The Downing Street dog
Marc’s work on Lucy’s Law helped see legislation put in place to cut down on rogue breeders and sellers, as well as helping end puppy farming and promoting pet adoption.
And this commitment to rescue animals saw Marc working with a very high profile family to find their perfect dog.
“When working in Westminster I heard a whisper that Carrie and Boris Johnson were looking for a dog. I reached out to Carrie and told her about a charity I work with, Friends of Animals Wales, which rehomes ex-breeding dogs and puppies with problems that are destined to be destroyed. I introduced her to the organisation, and a few weeks later I got a phone call from the Prime Minister himself, thanking me for helping them find Dilyn.
“Helping to get a rescue dog into one of the most prestigious addresses in the world is one of my favourite achievements. And when Dilyn was introduced to the world everyone, including the PM, was wearing a Lucy’s Law campaign rosette; it was such an overwhelming feeling.”
Teaching kindness and empathy
Marc, who was awarded an OBE for his services to animal welfare, regularly gives talks to local schools, and always ends the presentation with a picture of himself receiving his medal from the then Prince Charles.
“I say to them, ‘everybody can get a medal from the King if they are kind enough. Kind to animals, kind to humans, preferably both!’ It’s a powerful message to give to them, and I see school talks as inspiring the next generation of pet owners.”
He added: “It’s an honour and a privilege for me to work with Julia, her way of working ticks every single box for me.”
The Mewes Vets has been offering veterinary services in the region for many years, and the Haywards Heath branch was named the best vets in West Sussex in 2021 at the Best UK Vet Awards.
To find out more, book an appointment and give your pet the care they deserve by clicking here.