Published on 1st July 2025

Andrews Meadows, a new independent veterinary practice, has opened in Horsham. AAH visited the purpose-built facility on the Graylands Estate to meet founders Dawn Meadows and Dan Andrews, as well as a few furry friends… 

STARTING OUT

Dan and Dawn both studied at the Royal Veterinary College (RVC) in London before embarking on different career paths in animal care. Dan took an RVC post-graduate course in cardiology, gaining qualifications to perform heart surgery and other advanced treatments for dogs and cats. Dawn took further qualifications in orthopaedic operations, specialising in fractures, joint diseases, developmental deformities and non-routine soft tissue operations.  

When it came to launching a new veterinary practice, the wide-ranging qualifications and skills they had gained complemented one another perfectly. Dan said: ‘I celebrated a significant birthday two years ago and felt that if I didn’t start my own practice soon, it would never happen. I had worked at an independent practice for many years and missed the feeling it gave me, so wanted to start a small practice that forged a personal connection with clients once again. Dawn was the ideal business partner, as she’s a hugely experienced and skilled vet in her own right, with surgical expertise that complements my medicinal and cardiology background, giving us a broad base to build from. We met for a coffee and discussed the idea of a business and from there, things progressed quickly.’ 

HONEST OPINION

Creating the friendly aura of an independent practice was key. Dan has previously worked at Sears Croft Veterinary Surgery in Faygate, now owned by Medivet. After resigning as a partner, he stayed on as an employee, leaving last summer to establish his own practice. Dawn has worked at a small practice in the Herefordshire town of Ross-on-Wye and spent a year as a dairy cattle specialist in New Zealand. In 2012, after the arrival of her first child, Dawn joined Sears Croft, where she met Dan. Five years later, she left the practice and spent several years working as a peripatetic vet, providing specialist surgery while balancing family commitments. 

Dawn said: ‘Being a peripatetic vet meant that I worked with many different practices in Sussex and across the south east. A “first opinion” practice – a general veterinary practice that provides primary care for animals – can’t always perform surgical operations and that was my field of expertise. I stayed in touch with Dan and sometimes sent him an X-ray if I needed a second opinion. With our new business, we want it to be more of a general practice with additional services, treating cats, dogs and other animals too.  

‘Previously, we have worked with exotic specialists who treat chickens, parrots, tortoises and all kinds of animals. While we are not exotic specialists, we have been exposed to many treatments and can speak with a degree of experience. Often, a client just needs an honest opinion on whether something can be treated or not, which we can usually provide. If an animal needs treatment beyond what we offer, we have friends and colleagues to refer them to.’ 

LITTLE TOUCHES

Turning an idea into fruition wasn’t easy. The practice needed to be big enough to accommodate a reception area and kennels, as well as consultation and treatment rooms with space for x-ray and ultrasound equipment. It also needed plenty of free parking outside, so clients could walk or carry their pets inside with relative ease. After an extensive search, Dan and Dawn found a unit with potential on the Graylands Estate on Langhurstwood Road. 

 Dan said: ‘The unit was derelict, with external walls unfit for purpose and a lack of proper insulation. There were problems that a simple refurbishment couldn’t resolve, so it needed partially rebuilding. This took longer than anticipated and we were here seven days a week for several months, doing as much of the work as possible ourselves. One positive aspect of this was that we had a blank canvas to work from. We cut paper to different sizes to formulate our concept and the architect was quite complimentary about our plans, only moving the positioning of the corridor.’ 

‘It was a steep learning curve, as we didn’t appreciate the parameters involved in a commercial build. We had to learn about things like compliance for disabled toilets – something we hadn’t ever considered! Having invested our own money and taken out loans to make it possible, we tried to keep costs down. So, it was painful when we unearthed drainage issues which meant laying 105-metres of new pipes. Things kept going against us, but the silver lining is we now have a facility built to modern standards which will future-proof the business. We have also been able to implement small touches that make a big difference, based on our experiences at other practices. We recognised that many animals, especially dogs, don’t like stepping on to scales. So, our scales are sunk into the ground to make them level with the floor, so dogs are not even aware of it. We also fitted non-slip floors and clients appreciate these little things.’ 

LIKE A BOAS

Much of the day-to-day work is comprised of general practice services, including vaccinations for dogs, cats and rabbits, neutering of cats and dogs, and dental disease treatments, with dental radiography available too. When it comes to treating animals, there’s not much the two lead practitioners haven’t seen before. Dan even relates one story where he treated a tarantula with a fractured leg.  

Andrews Meadows can also perform cruciate surgery and luxating patella surgery, as well as BOAS, thoracic and cancer surgery. They can also investigate the majority of medicine and cardiology cases, with modern equipment including digital radiography, a human-quality ultrasound machine and endoscopes for examining the digestive and respiratory tracts. 

Dawn said: ‘We do a lot of BOAS (Brachycephalic Obstructive Airway Syndrome), which helps breeds such as French bulldogs and pugs breath more easily. Because they have short, flat faces, they struggle for air, particularly in hot weather, and BOAS surgery helps them breathe a lot better. As a cardiologist, Dan serves on the heart testing panel for dogs too. This involves conducting a physical examination to listen for abnormal sounds, which can help to identify animals genetically predisposed to heart disease. He can also issue certification which helps owners and breeders to identify healthy animals from others with defective genes.’ 

INDEPENDENT SPIRIT

Unlike many modern veterinary practices, particularly those owned by private equity firms, Dan and Dawn make house visits. While the majority of patients are best served at the practice itself, there are occasions when this may not be possible, such as for end-of-life care for a family pet.  

Dan said: ‘When it is time to let an animal go, some clients like us to visit their family home. It can be a more comfortable way for a beloved pet to depart, in a familiar environment, surrounded by the people they love. It doesn’t make our job any easier though and in my experience, the more you get to know an owner and their pet, the harder it is at the end. Home visits were something many independent practices used to offer, before they were taken over by larger companies. We want to move back towards those traditional services.’ 

‘There was a time when most of us called their GP by their first name and a vet would treat a pet during its entire life, getting to know the owners too. Despite all of the fancy equipment we have, I think that is what people care about the most. Far more important than any kind of ultrasound machine is that you go through thick and thin together, and develop a close relationship.’ 

WORDS: Ben Morris / PHOTOS: Alan Wright

Further information: For more information visit: www.andrewsmeadowsvets.co.uk