The vet you trust with family: Why compassion is at the heart of Ballymena Pet Vets

Ballymena Pet Vets on Henry Street, Ballymena

For most pet owners, there are few decisions more important than choosing the right vet.

Whether it’s an excited puppy’s first vaccination, an ageing dog beginning to slow down, a rabbit refusing to eat or the heartbreaking moment a beloved companion becomes seriously ill, every visit comes with one thing in common: trust.

It’s that trust that Ballymena Pet Vets has worked to earn since opening its independent practice on Henry Street in 2019.

Owned by local veterinary surgeon Mary Davey MRCVS, the clinic has built its reputation on combining experienced veterinary care with something equally important — taking the time to listen, explain and support owners through every stage of their pet’s life.

For Mary and her team, veterinary medicine has never simply been about treating animals. It’s about caring for the families who love them too.

A childhood dream that never changed

Mary Davey MRCVS, Ballymena Pet Vets

Long before she qualified as a veterinary surgeon, Mary was the child who wanted to help every animal she met.

Growing up in Ballymena, she loved everything from family pets to wildlife and farm animals. Every spring, she looked forward to staying with her uncle during lambing season, fascinated by the care and dedication involved in looking after livestock.

“I had the typical vet dream from early childhood,” Mary recalls.

“I loved all animals — pets, wildlife and farm animals. Every year I couldn’t wait for springtime so I could stay at my uncle’s farm and help with lambing season.

“At that time I had no concept of the sheer volume of hard work and persistence it would take to finally become qualified, but I finally achieved that goal in 2001.”

Always a friendly welcome for furry family!

After graduating from University College Dublin, Mary spent a year working in a busy small animal practice in Dublin before returning home to Ballymena.

More than two decades later, she has cared for thousands of pets across the local area, with around 25 years of experience helping families through everything from routine check-ups to life-saving emergencies.

Opening Ballymena Pet Vets in 2019 was an opportunity to create the kind of practice she had always believed in — one where clinical excellence, honest advice and genuine compassion would always go hand in hand.

Every pet is different. Every family is different.

Vet life… animals at work, animals at home!

Experience has taught Mary that successful veterinary care isn’t about giving every patient exactly the same treatment.

It’s about understanding the animal, listening to the owner and finding the approach that works best for both.

“As my experience has grown, the thing I think about most is how I can help support my clients to maintain their pets’ health so that relationship between them is as good as it can be for as long as possible,” she says.

“That can take many forms — preventing disease, behavioural advice, treating short-term and long-term health problems, and helping owners recognise when their pet is suffering and how they can help alleviate that.”

Rather than overwhelming owners with technical language, the team believes in explaining every diagnosis and discussing the available options openly, allowing families to make informed decisions with confidence.

That means treatment plans are tailored not only to a pet’s medical needs, but also to the realities of everyday family life.

“The same condition may be managed differently for two different pets because every household is different,” Mary explains.

“Our role is to explain the options clearly so owners can choose what’s right for their animal.”

The cases that matter most aren’t always the dramatic ones

No two days the same.

Veterinary medicine is often associated with emergency surgery and life-saving procedures.

Those moments certainly happen.

Ballymena Pet Vets performs a wide range of surgical procedures, investigates complex illnesses and regularly helps animals through challenging medical conditions.

But surprisingly, those aren’t always the cases Mary remembers most.

“Of course everyone loves the big dramatic cases where a dog needs surgery to remove a foreign body, or a cat needs a leg amputated,” she says.

“But some of my favourite cases are where I’ve given advice on how a client can manage their pet’s condition themselves and the next time I see them is a year later at their annual check-up and the animal is doing great with no need for further treatment because the client followed my advice.”

For Mary, those quiet success stories represent veterinary care at its very best — helping pets stay healthy while giving owners the knowledge and confidence to care for them every day.

Independent care with a personal approach

Registered vet nurse, Cassie Kilgore, Ballymena Pet Vets

As an independent veterinary practice, Ballymena Pet Vets is able to focus entirely on the needs of its patients and clients.

The emphasis isn’t on rushing appointments or offering unnecessary treatments.

Instead, the team believes owners deserve honest conversations, clear explanations and realistic advice.

The practice aims to provide high-quality veterinary care while remaining as affordable as possible, ensuring families understand both the recommended treatment and the options available before making decisions.

For many owners, knowing they can speak openly with a familiar team who understands both them and their pet brings valuable peace of mind.

A team united by a love of animals

Although Mary leads the practice, she is quick to credit the dedicated team working alongside her.

Ballymena Pet Vets veterinary surgeon Gregor Adamson MRCVS

Fellow veterinary surgeon Gregor Adamson MRCVS, a graduate of the University of Glasgow, brings more than 10 years’ experience in small animal practice.

Together they are supported by:

• Cassie Kilgore RVN – Registered Veterinary Nurse

• Sophie Lowry SVN – Student Veterinary Nurse

• Sarah Akarsu Hughes – Veterinary Care Assistant

• Janelle Davey – Veterinary Care Assistant

• Heather White – Receptionist

Between them, the team shares life with an extraordinary variety of animals, including dogs, cats, rabbits, goats, bees and tortoises.

(L-R) Vet nurses and assistants, Sarah, Sophie, Cassie, Janelle!

That personal experience means they understand the emotions that often accompany a visit to the vet.

Whether it’s reassuring an anxious owner, comforting a nervous puppy during its first appointment or helping a family through one of the most difficult days they’ll ever face, compassion is as much a part of the job as clinical expertise.

The nursing team also plays a vital role beyond treatment, helping owners understand preventative healthcare, recovery after surgery, nutrition and the everyday steps that can help pets enjoy longer, healthier lives.

Looking after pets throughout every stage of life

Receptionist Heather, Ballymena Pet Vets

From welcoming new puppies and kittens to caring for elderly companions, Ballymena Pet Vets offers the full range of services expected from a modern small animal practice.

Preventative healthcare includes routine health checks, vaccinations, flea and worm treatments and neutering, helping pets stay healthier throughout their lives.

When illness strikes, the clinic provides digital X-rays, ultrasound, blood testing and thorough diagnostic investigations to identify the cause as quickly as possible.

The team also performs soft tissue surgery, removes lumps and masses, carries out dental procedures, performs caesarean sections and treats a wide range of ongoing conditions including arthritis, diabetes and skin disease.

For more complex illnesses or specialist surgical procedures, Ballymena Pet Vets works closely with trusted referral centres, ensuring patients receive the most appropriate care whenever additional expertise is required.

Helping families make confident decisions

Well-deserved recognition for Janelle Davey, who always go over and above at Ballymena Pet Vets.

One of the greatest challenges for any pet owner is knowing what’s best when an animal becomes unwell.

The team at Ballymena Pet Vets believes no one should feel rushed, confused or unsupported when making those decisions.

Every consultation is an opportunity not only to diagnose and treat, but to educate, reassure and guide owners through the choices available.

It’s an approach that reflects the practice’s wider philosophy: healthy pets, informed owners and relationships built on trust.

Part of the Ballymena community

Being based in the town where she grew up gives Mary’s work an added sense of purpose.

Many of today’s clients are neighbours, friends and families she has known for years, while others are bringing a new generation of pets through the clinic doors.

That community connection remains one of the things she values most.

After all, caring for pets means caring for the people behind them too.

For families looking for an experienced, independent veterinary practice where compassion matters just as much as clinical expertise, Ballymena Pet Vets continues to offer exactly what many owners are searching for — trusted advice, personalised care and a team that genuinely understands the bond between people and their animals.

Because, in the end, the best veterinary care isn’t simply about treating illness.

It’s about helping pets live longer, happier lives and giving the people who love them confidence every step of the way.

Find Ballymena Pet Vets

Address

52 Henry Street

Ballymena

BT42 3AH

Telephone: 028 2568 9646

Email: reception@ballymenapetvets.com

Website: www.ballymenapetvets.com

Opening Hours

Monday to Friday: 9.00am – 7.00pm

Saturday: 9.00am – 12 noon

Sunday: Closed