Christine took over the Eye Veterinary Clinic in May 2015. Becoming a practice owner had never been on her list of ambitions, but when the clinic she had worked in for over 14 years was acquired by venture capitalists, she decided it was time for a change. Transitioning from employee to employer was a significant challenge, but once she took the leap, she found herself wondering why she hadn’t done it sooner.
From the moment she arrived at the Eye Veterinary Clinic, Christine continued to practise veterinary medicine as she always had—with enthusiasm and deep compassion for the patients entrusted to her care.
The practice grew quickly, and the early years required a great deal of juggling. Karen joined the clinic in February 2017, supporting both the business operations and anaesthesia services. Having first met in 1995, Karen and Christine shared many of the same ideals and principles, which became the foundation of how they ran the practice.
A guiding principle of the clinic has always been to treat people and their pets as they would wish their own family to be treated.
Rachael Grundon joined the practice soon after Christine took over and became a director in 2020.
All three directors shared a passion for training younger vets to become specialists, with the hope that one day they would have successors to take over the clinic and keep it independent and vet-run. In an evolving veterinary landscape, they have remained committed to maintaining on-site ownership, believing it leads to better service for clients and stronger staff retention.
Sadly, Christine is no longer with us. However, Rachael and Karen remain dedicated to upholding the principles she established when she took over the clinic, and they hope that future generations will carry them forward with the same commitment.