Grove Veterinary Centre has become the first port of call for animal lovers throughout the Ballymena borough and beyond - testimony to the expertise and caring nature of the team.

In the same way as humans get to know and trust their own individual GP or dentist, pets and their owners also appreciate familiarity when it comes to veterinary care.

Two of the practice's long-serving vets, Mark McCracken and James Ritchie - who have assisted for more than a decade - recently joined the partnership, which also includes original partners Sam Bonar and Michael Maybin.

Two other locally-based veterinary assistants - Anne-Marie McKeegan and Jonathan Auld - have also recently joined the existing team of staff, who are dedicated to the wellbeing of your pet.

Another recent development for Grove Veterinary Centre has been the creation of a website - .www.grovevets.co.uk

The site, which has been designed by Galgorm-based company MCC Computers, features information on opening times, features, promotions and services as well as helpful advice, all at the click of a button.
September promises to be a busy month at the Grove Road premises, underlined by the Pet Smile Month initiative.

Pet Smile Month is the world's biggest veterinary-led Pet Health Campaign and Grove Veterinary Centre is one of the registered practices participating in the promotion.

The offer running is for a FREE dental check and with this you will receive a goody bag full of samples and money off vouchers from leading companies in pet dental hygiene. Please contact the practice and make an appointment for your free dental check up.

"Pet dental care can sometimes be overlooked, with people only bringing their pets in when the situation gets really bad but, like humans, there are preventative measures which can be taken when it comes to dental hygiene and care," explains Grove Practice Manager Colette Fergus.

"We are a caring, enthusiastic and dedicated team of professionals aiming to provide an affordable, efficient service to the pets of Ballymena, utilising the highest standards of equipment and expertise."

Grove Veterinary Centre offers an extensive range of services such as microchipping, vaccinations, parasitic treatments, medicine, surgery, dentistry, oncology, neutering and accessories, to name but a few.

The on-site facilities include ample parking, three consultation rooms, preparations, dedicated operating theatres, heated kennels, isolation facilities and laboratory, which enables staff to reach rapid diagnosis for most conditions.

The centre's appointments system enables clients to make an advance booking rather than simply drop in during opening hours and face a lengthy wait - a procedure which has been warmly accepted by pet owners.
And in the event of some unforeseen circumstances, a 24-hour emergency service is