About Haven Vets
With two sites across Essex, Haven has been caring for pets since the late 1940s and was one of the earliest registered veterinary hospitals in the country.
What started as a farm animal surgery has evolved into a dedicated small animal practice, built on trust, continuity, and compassionate care.
Behind the scenes, a skilled and dedicated team is supported by excellent facilities, including a separate feline-friendly clinic area and advanced surgical and diagnostic equipment. Combining modern veterinary medicine with a personal service has always been at the heart of Haven, the kind of practice clients stay loyal to generation after generation.
Led by Dr Neil MacRae Smith, Dr Portia Clayton, and Practice Manager and Registered Veterinary Nurse Clare Frazer, Haven brings together decades of clinical experience, and a shared passion for providing exceptional care. Haven is proud of it’s reputation for being thorough, thoughtful, and always focused on doing what's best for their patients.
The Haven Vets Story
I joined Haven as a new graduate in 1999 and became a partner in 2002. Since then, we've grown a great deal, but our ethos—providing high-quality care through a supportive, compassionate team—hasn't changed. Portia and Clare joined the management team a few years ago, and together we made the decision to join VetThings' vet-led community. This means we can continue investing in our facilities and people, enabling us to provide the veterinary care we are passionate about without changing how we work or what we stand for.
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