Biography for Rhona Warnock
Arriving in Yorkshire from Kilwinning in Ayrshire as a young child, Rhona spent several years learning the local dialect (still a long way from perfect!) at school in Huddersfield and Bradford before returning north of the border for her university studies. After five years in Glasgow and having qualified with honours, she returned to Huddersfield and to Donaldsons Vets as an assistant veterinary surgeon- the next step in a long association with the practice that started as a voluntary evening helper when she was just 14!
After several years in a truly versatile role within this big mixed practice treating all creatures great and small, Rhona became a partner in 2003. Concentrating more on small animal medicine, Rhona became increasingly interested in rehabilitation and sports medicine through her experiences with her own young pup who suffered from hip dysplasia, and quickly realised that this relatively new and less well known area of veterinary medicine needed to be available to many, many more animals. Her determination to bring the best facilities and expertise to the patients who need it is a very personal mission and at the root of the Animal Rehabilitation Centre’s development.
Rhona spent several years training and studying in the UK and in Spain prior to qualifying as a Certified Canine Rehabilitation Practitioner through world leaders the University of Tennessee, and passed her exams in 2009 with the highest mark awarded at the European sitting and the first perfect score in the European practical exam. Rhona has also studied for and obtained further qualification in Veterinary Acupuncture.
When not in ARC, Rhona can often be found climbing, hiking and/or skiing mountains around the UK and the world (part of the reason she is proud to offer support to our local Search and Rescue dogs) and providing butler service for her landlords Grier the pointer and Charlie the cat. She also enjoys training and coaching martial arts which these days largely involves being squarely beaten by young children.