South Belfast-based Forestside Veterinary Clinic has opened for business following a £250,000 investment supported by Ulster Bank.
Independently owned and operated by veterinarians Rory Liston and Andrew McQuade, the clinic is located in the historic Galwally Lodge near Forestside shopping centre.
It specialises in providing personalised pet care for domestic companion animals and rare exotic pets, and offers a range of services, including routine check-ups, vaccinations, dental care, complex surgeries, and more.
Long-time associates Rory and Andrew both graduated in veterinary medicine from University College Dublin in 2014 and travelled extensively, practising in veterinary clinics around the word from Canada, Australia New Zealand and London before returning home to Belfast.
The owners say Forestside Veterinary Clinic offers a ‘village feel’.
“Transparency and communication is one of the areas we’re really focused on,” Andrew said.
“We want to be building long-term relationships with our clients and with our pets to deliver a truly client- and pet-focused care package. It’s that village feel but in a city setting; a comfortable and relaxed space, as opposed to a sterile clinic, where you get to really know your vet.”
“We believed we could do things a bit different, a bit better as an independent clinic,” Rory added.
“There were a lot of really positive takeaways from our time in private practice that we knew we could build upon. When Covid hit, our industry had to adapt and we lost a lot of the personal touch. For us, it’s all about community and getting to really know the owners and the pets so we can provide personalised, quality care.”
Ulster Bank business development manager Lee White said: “This investment has created a hugely valuable service for the community and we’re really pleased to provide the loan facility to make that possible.
“This is a strategically important location for consumers, commuters and residents. High footfall, combined with Rory and Andrew’s extensive experience and their commitment to personalised care for pets and owners alike, means the business is set to really deliver for its clients.”
Rory has a special interest in providing care for retired Greyhounds, a breed largely associated with racing but one becoming ever more popular as a domestic pet, while Andrew has a special interest in care for exotic pets, such as reptiles and birds.
The duo are supported in the clinic by veterinary nurse Amanda Liston, who has over a decade of experience providing exceptional care to her patients.
The clinic’s home at Galwally Lodge, built around 1885, served as the old gate house to Galwally House and was once home to the manor’s gardener, his family and their Irish Wolfhound ‘Finn’.