Whether it’s a much-loved, sick family pet or the victim of a cruel owner, Animal Hospital vet
Bairbre O’Malley
wants to save them all.
Millions of viewers know Bairbre | | Love for an animal can be just as strong |
O’Malley as the vet with the gentle touch in | | as love for another human being. And when |
the TV series Animal Hospital. Dressed in a | | a pet dies, the grieving process is similarly |
green surgical gown, her blonde hair pushed | | intense. “For older people especially, it’s a |
under a headband, she repairs the torn flesh | | terrible loss. Their pet is often the only |
and broken bones which are the result of | | living thing they have. When the animal |
man’s cruelty towards the creatures that | | goes, they’re devastated, yet they are also |
share our planet. | | amazingly unselfish about it - they’ll have |
What they don’t see, as Bairbre works | | their pet put down rather than let the animal |
with her needles and scalpels, is her | | [id:27786].” |
frustration and [id:27782]. She keeps them hidden | | Bairbre herself knows what it’s like to |
beneath the smile, which has made her one | | lose a pet. “I’ve lost two dogs I adored, both |
of the best-loved figures in a television | | killed by cars. The first was my childhood |
documentary series. But it’s there all right. | | joy and it was killed outside my front door. I |
“Of course you get affected,” says | | was 13 and I remember I cried for days.” |
Bairbre, 35. “You wouldn’t be human if you | | Bairbre’s work is often [id:27787], with the |
didn’t. Much of the cruelty isn’t actual | | operations lasting anything up to three |
assault on an animal, but [id:27783]. Some people | | hours. “I remember a dog that got impaled |
just don’t give a damn. I’ve known cases | | on some railings on Hampstead Heath. The |
where a person has moved out of a flat, | | firebrigade had cut him free and he was |
locked the door behind them and left their | | brought in here with the railings sticking |
dog to starve to death.” | | right through him. The dog made a full |
In the four years Bairbre’s been at the | | recovery - but the amazing thing was, he |
RSPCA2) Harmsworth hospital in London, | | had a doggy girlfriend who stayed with him |
there’s little she hasn’t seen. The biggest | | all the way through. She wouldn’t leave his |
surprises often come when she opens an | | side.” |
animal’s stomach because it has an eating | | Now that she’s a TV star, she gets |
disorder. “Some dogs are [id:27784],” she smiles, | | fanmail by the sackful. There are fourlegged |
“In my time I’ve found socks, tights, | | fans too. “Someone sent a photo of a |
walnuts, doorknobs - you name it.” | | cat sitting in front of the TV watching me. It |
Thankfully though, for every bad owner | | was flattering until I realised that |
there are scores of caring ones. “You can’t | | also on screen was a parrot. I know cats and |
fail to be moved by people’s kindness. The | | their instincts. What it was really doing, |
pets that flood our lives with love come | | was looking at the parrot and thinking ‘[id:27788]’.” |
in all shapes and sizes. | | |
There are lots of rats being kept as | |
pets these days,” says Bairbre. “Don’t | |
knock it - rats make great pets. They are | |
very friendly and intelligent. Trouble is, | |
their owners love them so much they [id:27785] them. | |
I think someone ought to set up a diet club | |
specially for rats.” | | ‘Woman’s Own’ |