Can a Corgi?
Over the past couple of months, I have found myself spending more time on matters of design and realization than actually being a vet. As you may know from my previous musings, as well as labradors, we have the dubious privilege of owning a Corgi called Jorgé. While Jorgé may be large on character and determination, he is short on stature and more specifically leg length. Indeed, in terms of design, it is hard to see where he exceeds the labradors except in the rather niche situation where he can sneak under something that they cannot!
My younger son, Owen (11), and I were joking about this whilst watching the “Red Bull Soapbox Race” last year and we both agreed that the Corgi would be much improved if it had wheels instead of legs – and this is when the idea of the “Corgi Kart” was born. Over the following weeks it progressed from an idea to us entering the Great Dunmow Soapbox race in Essex. 6 weeks before the race date, we began manufacture and with the indispensable help of some friends (most notably Danny and Howard for metalwork and welding!) we just managed to complete the Corgi Kart in time and team “Jorgé’s Racers” were all set. We were soon to discover that the event was rather larger than expected – with 10,000 supporters attending to watch the 55 competitors tackle the hill!
The second project (which was obviously far less important than the soapbox race!) was the design and layout of our new practice in Hassocks. Whilst the building had been previously used as a veterinary practice, there were a lot of improvements that needed to be made. Over the past two months these renovations have been carried out and with a few weeks left until completion, we are very pleased with the result. The practice will have dog and cat waiting areas and most importantly a coffee machine for clients! We also have separate dog and cat kenneling, with each kennel equipped with individual LED lighting and underfloor heating - Amazon Echo’s will mean suitable playlists are available for our canine and feline patients! The practice is equipped with a full in house laboratory for blood, cytological, urine and faecal testing, an operating theatre, a digital X-ray machine, a full dental suite (including dental X-ray), as well as facilities for cardiac and abdominal ultrasound. Add in air-conditioning, new doors, alarm systems, phones and IT and it’s been quite a busy time! However, we’re on track for our opening date of the 8th of July and look forward to welcoming the clients of Hassocks and their pets from this day onwards.
I suppose you may be wondering what the outcome of the race was… After a prolonged interview at the top while the previous racer was cleared from the track, the Corgi Kart and I were launched down the ramp to the music of “Who let the dog’s out?” pursued by some 11 year olds dressed as German Shepherd dogs. We were going great guns – successfully navigating the first jump with foam car wash, then the chicane and finally the “big kicker”. All seemed fine until the landing, where the Corgi sadly suffered from bilateral front leg fractures, which resulted in a left paw getting stuck under our chassis. The speed slowly bled off and I stopped one metre from the finish and had to push myself over the line! It seems even decorative legs are the undoing of the Corgi, but luckily, I am interested in orthopaedics, so I should be able to repair the fractures with some masking tape and no more nails – slightly less involved than the real thing! Some improvements to be made, but we’ll be back next year!
