Say hello to Clive the cat, who nearly croaked after stealing his owner’s dinner out of her oven.

Then there’s Chico, the dog who looked like he had grown a spare rib, but had actually swallowed a bone whole.

And adorable little terrier Toots, a poorly pup who needs his ears flushed out to get rid of an infection… Life at Glasgow’s pet hospital on Shamrock Street is full of cute characters and heartwarming tales.

This week, the charity which runs this inspirational institution – one of two in the city – celebrates its 100th birthday, as senior vet Susie Hermit explains.

“The story of PDSA (People’s Dispensary for Sick Animals) is a truly remarkable journey from humble beginnings during the First World War,” she says.

“Maria Dickin first set up a dispensary for sick animals of the poor in London’s East End in November 1917, and over the following years its work spread in response to public demand.

“PDSA now operates 48 hospitals across the UK, supported by a national chain of 130 shops and a dedicated army of volunteers.”

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PDSA has had a Scottish service since 1942, where a full time dispensary was established at 5 Windsor Terrace, the site of the old North Western Refuge for Destitute Animals.

Between 1942 and 1946, new dispensaries were opened at Bridgeton and Parkhead with additional support from a mobile unit which attended street accidents and served housing developments.

The Shamrock Street premises opened in 1975 and almost 20 years later, a second hospital at Tollcross opened its doors.

Today, relying on generous public support alone, the two Glasgow hospitals provide more than 162,000 treatments every year and see around 320 pets on an average day – pets like Toots, Chico and Clive.

“Toots is just adorable – everyone loves him,” smiles Susie.

“He is like a little ball of fluff. He is staying with us to get some treatment on his ears.

“As for Chico – our vets were gobsmacked he had managed to swallow a rib bone whole without causing himself any injury.

“He didn’t seem to be in any pain but we knew we had to carry out emergency surgery to remove it because it could have caused a life-threatening tear to his stomach or intestines.”

Chico’s owner, Craig Anderson, 41, from Newlands, said he had bought the rib bone as a treat for his beloved pet.

“I thought if I supervised him it would be fine but he literally swallowed it in one mouthful.

“He seemed fine but I knew he wouldn’t be able to digest it properly so I took him straight to PDSA. I’m so grateful to them for the amazing care they gave to Chico, it’s something I’ll never forget.”

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Susie adds: “Chico is very lucky. We don’t recommend bones to be given as treats because they can cause digestive tract damage and blockages. Surgery is usually needed to remove the blockage and, in some cases, the damage is so serious that it can be fatal.”

Clive the cat had pulled the remains of his owner’s salmon dinner from the oven and was polishing it off on the kitchen floor when she walked in.

Imogen Craven-Mallett, 21, was horrified. “I couldn’t believe it – it had been cooked in garlic and onions and I know they are poisonous to cats,” she recalls.

Susie explains: “Sadly, we see plenty of poisoning cases, especially at Christmas, but we’ve never seen a case like this before.

“It’s very unusual for a cat to be able to open an oven! Clive is a real character and incredibly lucky.”

She adds: “The garlic and onion could have been fatal but, thanks to his owner’s quick reaction and our treatment, he’s recovered and all his tests came back clear.”

Imogen adds: “I’m incredibly grateful for all PDSA have done. I certainly couldn’t afford to pay for the treatment he needed and I would have been heartbroken if something had happened to him.”

Susie has worked for PDSA for seven years..

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“I grew up around animals – we always had pets and my mum had a pony,” she says. “I did some work experience at a local vet’s when I was 13 and knew instantly it was the job I wanted to do.

“I remember watching him do what was probably, to him, quite a simple operation – stitching a wound. I thought, wow – how great would it be to be able to do that? To put a dog back together, to make it feel better after an injury or illness – it was really inspiring.”

After a spell in private practice and on emergency out of hours care, Susie jumped at the chance to work for the PDSA “Working for the PDSA is the best job in the world,” she smiles.

“It’s not just about fixing pets, it’s about helping people.

“If you have had a pet in your family all your life, and you suddenly fall upon hard times through job loss, for example or illness, it can be an extremely difficult decision about what to do if you are confronted with a £200 vet bill.

“Being able to offer free and low-cost treatments means PDSA can help families in that situation. For them, PDSA is a lifeline.

“But we rely on people’s support to be able to do that and we have some amazing fundraisers, who do everything from holding bake sales to zip-sliding for us.”

The team treats household pets like cats, dogs, rabbits, hamsters and birds – occasional exotic visitors include snakes and lizards, but after some first aid, they are usually quickly referred on for specialist help.

From simple vaccinations to complicated operations, each pet is treated with kindness and dignity.

“It can be very difficult when we can’t save a pet, of course, and it affects us all,” says Susie.

“But at least we can ensure that pet is not in pain, and we can give the owner a peaceful way of saying goodbye – and reassure him or her that their little animal had a good life, thanks to them.”

Susie admits she has met real characters over the last seven years – of both human and animal variety.

“We see all sorts,” she laughs.

“I love seeing dogs with little outfits on, that’s always very funny – and meeting companion dogs, such as those helping blind or deaf people, is incredible.

“Some of the strangest situations are when we have to remove unusual objects pets have swallowed.”

She grins: “Especially when it’s pants. You’d be surprised how many times we’ve had to retrieve owners’ underwear from their pets – and it’s usually a bit embarrassing for everyone concerned...”

For more information about PDSA and to find out how you can support the charity’s work, visit www.pdsa.org.uk/pdsa100