Carla’s Why

Meet The Founder

Carla’s Why?

Carla Finzel has been passionate about veterinary nursing care since qualifying as a veterinary nurse in 2001. She has spent over 20 years working in primary care, emergency and critical care, referral and district veterinary nursing.

In 2015, she established the District Veterinary Nurse (DVN) role after seeing a need for continued care beyond the consulting room – especially in longer-term rehabilitation cases where the pet owner might not be able to provide the care that their pet needs.

Carla has proven that the district veterinary nurse role is fundamental in improving patient outcomes and alleviating caregiver burnout – and she emphatically believes that both pet owners and vets need this support! Carla is invited regularly to give presentations at universities and veterinary nursing colleges about her experience and many of her case studies have been published in national newspapers, magazines and veterinary journals.

Carla’s desire has been to make provisions under the Equality Act 2010 – to make a better space for EVERYONE and to protect the human-animal bonds of all members of society with non-visible and visible disabilities.  Carla believes that inclusivity is not bringing people into what already exists but in making things better to “include” all.

Carla campaigns for One Welfare-One Health, a movement that aims to bring together the goals of human healthcare, animal healthcare and environmental stewardship. The principles of One Welfare-One Health have inspired her to take action and campaign for change within the veterinary world.

StreetVet

Carla has been an active volunteer for StreetVet since it was established in Brighton in 2017.
StreetVet is a charity that offers free vet care to pets belonging to those experiencing homelessness across multiple locations in the U.K. StreetVet is fuelled by over 400 like-minded vets and nurses taking their skills to the streets to improve accessibility to vital vet care.

Say Aphasia

The Say Aphasia Charity provides supportive drop in groups for people with aphasia in the UK.

It is run by people with aphasia for people with aphasia. Aphasia is not a well known condition and so people with aphasia can feel alone.

Our aim is to provide continuous support in a social environment with others who are experiencing similar life changes.

Our charity makes a difference to people living with aphasia by:

  • Offering additional support
  • Helping to adjust to living with aphasia.
  • Meeting others who are experiencing a similar life change.
  • Making new life long friends.
  • Gaining tips and advice from others with aphasia.
  • Gaining confidence to socialise and communicate as best they can.
  • Re-gaining independence as much as they can.
  • Helping to reduce loneliness.
  • Providing support in a relaxed and welcoming environment.
  • Offering art class and singing class as a therapeutic way to relax and express themselves.

Awards & Nominations

Inaugural Above and Beyond Award (2019)

British Veterinary Nursing Association – Helping the Community Award (2020) (Nominee)

The Dean Lester Coleman StreetVet Volunteer of the Year Award (2019) (Nominee)

PetPlan Veterinary Nurse of the Year Award (2020) (Nominee)

PetPlan Veterinary Nurse of the Year Award (2021) (Nominee)

Blue Cross Veterinary Nurse of the Year Award (2021) (Nominee)

PetPlan Veterinary Nurse of the Year Award (2022) (Nominee)

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