Having nearly lost her daughter once when only a baby, loving mum Karen Lantrip was naturally determined to keep her as safe as possible.
So when little Ivy reached school age, Karen and husband Matthew started considering alternatives to their California home. And after Karen attended veterinary school in Edinburgh, the capital was top of their list.
Now the family are so settled, 41-year-old Karen has even opened her own family vet clinic, West Edinburgh Vets, in the heart of Corstorphine.
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Karen and Matthew moved to the US after university where she began working in intense emergency night clinics that she admittedly loved. They decided to have their daughter Ivy in 2017 but she was born premature and was on life support.
Karen describes her daughter as a fighter but says that their experiences of almost losing her had a profound impact on them when they began to consider her school life.
“Having her almost die as a baby meant that we were really apprehensive about putting her into an educational setting where guns could be a problem. There were a lot of reasons for leaving America and the politics around Trump definitely didn’t help”, she added.
“At one point we thought one of us would have to give up our career to homeschool Ivy but then we decided why not move back to the UK where there are no guns. We had always dreamed of making Edinburgh our home so it made sense."
Karen grew up and learned her trade in the Napa Valley. She met her software engineer husband, Matthew, while studying in the capital.
After briefly moving back to California they have decided to build their life in Auld Reekie with their six-year-old daughter, Ivy. This was after growing concerned with the political and educational environment in America.
Karen’s goal has been to create a veterinary clinic that with a family feel. So far she has dealt with the more standard cats and dogs but her skills have also been put to the test with a hedgehog and even a bearded dragon coming in for treatment.
Her experience is extensive having started working at a vet alongside her sister from the age of 15. Bar a brief hiatus learning the ropes as a paramedic, she has always been involved in caring for animals of all shapes and sizes.
“We were definitely that family who took in every stray cat or dog that needed a home in the neighbourhood”, she said.
“I started working in a vet clinic at 15 after my sister was able to get me a job there. The owner was like a father figure to me and definitely gave me the mentorship that brought me to where I am today.
“I began cleaning kennels before moving onto nursing work but I was not sure if I wanted to be a vet due to the responsibility that comes with the role. So I did try to explore other avenues like being a paramedic but I quickly realised that working in human healthcare was not my thing.
“Focusing on my veterinary studies then became my priority and the decision to consider travelling to Edinburgh for my education came from visiting a friend who had done her year abroad in Glasgow. I completely fell in love with the city when I was here and I thought at the time this was a place I would like to one day live.
“I applied to my home school at the University of Davis but that was near impossible to get into. Thankfully I got lucky as I got in on my first try to Edinburgh due to my good grades and my extensive hands on experience working in clinics - being a foreign student paying fees certainly didn’t hurt either.
“So at 26 I moved to Edinburgh to complete my studies and in my second year I met my husband Matthew who at the time was studying a PhD in robotics. I first wanted to become a zoo vet and took an intense internship at a zoo in Maryland but doing that helped me to realise that what I was good at, and really enjoyed doing, was tending to cats and dogs.”
Karen added: “We left California and moved to Juniper Green in September 2019. I got a job before the pandemic at another clinic in the capital and it was a really good job that I loved.
“But having worked in a family run clinic in the past and having an entrepreneurial spirit, it began to make sense that I would start my own business. At the clinic in California where I learned the ropes I would be doing the books and the business side as well as the medicine.
“So we thought if Edinburgh is going to be our forever home then why not take the leap and set up my own clinic. Ultimately there is never the right time to do it but I thought being a vet is already very time consuming and stressful - so why not do it for myself instead of someone else.
“It was a big thing to be the master of my own destiny. I come in everyday and still cannot believe that this is my clinic. Sometimes I forget that I’m the boss. Someone will tell me that we have run out of an item and I’m like ‘oh yeah that is me who has to sort that out.’
“There are different stresses because other people are relying on you each day to make big decisions. You cannot just walk away if it isn’t going well.
“It truly is a dream come true and in a way it has been easier than I thought it would be but I think that is because I was ready to do it. I absolutely love the community here, everyone has been so friendly and welcoming.
“As an American you do not know how you will be perceived but Corstorphine is an amazing place with super positive people. I have zero complaints and only good things to say about this community.
“There is such a special vibe with so many great places to go for dinner. It is really nice.”
On what West Edinburgh Vets offer, she continued: “We primarily focus on cats, dogs and rabbits but we see all sorts. I’ve had a hedgehog and a bearded dragon in but surprisingly no rabbits yet.
“It has been really busy and certainly busier than I thought it would be with multiple registrations a day. For us pet and client satisfaction is the absolute priority.
“I built my experience in a vet that had a family feel, you are seen by the same people each time which builds up a trust. It is about dogs and their owners feeling as comfortable as possible.
“We focus on a high quality of care with a family environment as that is what I’m used to. I want to make it feel like a home as pets pick up on an environment, if it doesn't smell and look like a pet clinic, then they will feel relaxed.
“I want to provide a high standard of care and for me as a clinician I want to be able to do everything that my clients need - from the small stuff to the more serious procedures. We have everything you need in terms of equipment here.”
Karen has welcomed any pet owners in the capital looking for a vet to get in touch and register their pets.
You can find out more about West Edinburgh Vets through their Facebook here or their website here.
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