TWO Swindon veterinary professionals have each been nominated for a prestigious national award.

The colleagues who work at Vets4Pets Swindon and Vets4Pets Bridgemead have been shortlisted as finalists for two Petplan awards.

Clare Dudley has been nominated for Practice Manager of the Year and Tanya Crawley is a Vet of the Year nominee.

Tanya was thrilled to have made it this far.

She said: “Over my career, I have been nominated for Vet of the Year several times, which is humbling in itself, but being shortlisted as a finalist is such an incredible honour.

“When I received the phone call to tell me I was in the final three I was speechless and utterly stunned. The award is a huge, national accolade and to be shortlisted for doing the job I love is amazing.

Miss Crawley opened the Swindon practice in 2010. Clare Dudley joined as a receptionist in 2013 and was promoted to practice manager within six weeks.

Miss Dudley said: “Knowing that the nominations came from clients and my teams at each clinic makes it feel all the more special.

“One client told me that he nominated me for my assistance during his dog’s health check as he felt I had gone the extra mile for his family, when in my eyes, I was just doing my job.

The two finalists opened the Swindon Bridgemead practice together in 2015 with another colleague, Karen Lewendon.

Tanya said: “I think of all my clients as part of my extended family, and Clare and I strive to make both practices as warm and accommodating as possible. We have been overwhelmed by all the support they have shown us.”

Thousands of nominations for this year’s awards were submitted by fellow vets and clients at practices all over the UK which were then narrowed down into a shortlist of finalists for each award.

The winners will be announced at an awards ceremony at the Symphony Hall in Birmingham on April 6.

Vets4Pets and Companion Care are part of the Pets At Home Vet Group.

The Pets at Home Vet Group operate 411 Vet practices and employ 1,081 veterinary surgeons.

Clare added: “My business sense, Tanya’s veterinary expertise, and our combined passion for all things ‘pet’ make us an exceptional pairing. We complement each other wonderfully because we have the same principles and share the same work ethic.

“I’m incredibly proud of everything we have achieved and to be a finalist for this award is an incredible honour.”

Tanya added: “We are proud to offer our services to the Swindon community and we hope we can continue to offer a high level of care to all our local pets and owners way into the future.”