Foundation in memory of vet raises £5k for charity

A foundation set up in memory of a Sheffield-vet who died two years ago has donated £5,000 to national assistance dog charity Support Dogs.
By The Newsroom
Published 16th Jul 2018, 10:17 BST
Updated 16th Jul 2018, 17:02 BST
Staff at Springfield Veterinary Practice in Rotherham, Support Dogs vets, are pictured with copies of Debbie Gittleson's book,Staff at Springfield Veterinary Practice in Rotherham, Support Dogs vets, are pictured with copies of Debbie Gittleson's book,
Staff at Springfield Veterinary Practice in Rotherham, Support Dogs vets, are pictured with copies of Debbie Gittleson's book,

The Debs Foundation was set up as a charitable trust a year ago following the death of Debbie Gittleson, a vet and writer, who loved animals.

Debbie’s brother David explained: “Debbie died two years ago and we set up The Debs Foundation in her memory around a year ago.

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

“We were brought up in Ecclesall and she attended High Storrs School.

“She loved animals and knew she wanted to be a vet from a very young age and after school went off to Cambridge University to study veterinary medicine. She was a wonderful, special and loved person.”

Debbie worked in a number of vet practices, including the Park Veterinary Hospital in Millhouses, before moving to drug company Pfizer to help them liaise with vets on their new medicines for animals.

Debbie then wrote articles for veterinary publications and book, Pain Management in Small Animals, under her then married name Debbie Grant, for veterinary nurses and technicians.

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

Added David: “We support charities that reflect the causes she believed in and advocated for, often small and local, that make a real impact in their communities. We have a particular focus on animal welfare and mental health and Support Dogs is a fantastic cause that uses rescue dogs and fits in incredibly well around the aims of the foundation. We’re thrilled to be able to support them in this way.”

The donation will be used to cover Support Dogs’ veterinary bills for a year.

Danny Anderson, fundraising manager for Support Dogs, said: “We’re grateful to The Debs Foundation for their generous donation to our work, and touched that they thought of us as a charity that fits with their aims and aspirations.”

Support Dogs is a registered national charity dedicated to increasing independence and quality of life for people with various medical conditions.

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

The charity provides and trains assistance dogs for children with autism and adults with epilepsy and physical disability, enabling them to lead safer, more independent lives.

To find out more about Support Dogs visit https://www.supportdogs.org.uk/

Related topics:Support DogsSheffieldPfizer