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People's Dispensary for Sick Animals, Lichfield Road

jennyann

jennyann

Gone but not forgotten. R.I.P.
The PDSA was located a few yards from the Aston Station
bridge on Lichfield Road on the left hand side, just below
a ladies shop called Constance. We had adopted a kitten in
1950 and my mother said that it had to be neutered. There
were no dispensaries in Erdington where we lived, the
nearest one was the one in Lichfield Road.
I was asked to take the kitten to the PDSA to have the op done. This meant walking to Stockland Green from our house off
Marsh Hill with the kitten in a shopping bag....catching the No.78 tram to Aston Station. The kitten didn't like the inside of the shopping bag needless to say!!!!!! I was about nine years old
and obviously had never taken a kitten on a tram before!

We arrived at the PDSA and they took the cat away for it's op.
Later on the vet came through and said that the cat was not
coming out of the anesthetic very well and might not live.
I was very upset but whilst I was trying to deal with this
they bought the cat out and said the cat was still alive but very poorly. They wrapped puss up in an old jumper and told me to go home. I will always remember waiting for the tram back by the station and people looking at the cat sleeping in my arms like a baby...out to the world but still alive. Also, on the tram people were staring at the cat and me. The cat survived and went on to live until age 18.
 
I remember the PDSA, when we were kids, nobody took their pets to a private vet, (dont think there were any in Aston). But i remember going to the Lichfield Road PDSA.

You just put a donation in the box - whatever you could afford.

But these days, the PDSA will not see any animal, if you are not on social help. I remember taking our lovely lurcher there, just before we left Brum, i just wanted a second opinion, I intended to pay the same as a Private vets fees, but at the time she was rather poorly, and to go to another private vet, would have been a no no, (all politcal - dont ask) as i say i just wanted a second un-biased opinion. But would they have a look at her for me - Not on your Nelly! Gone is the old caring help, it is after all supposed to be for sick animals, but the beaurocrats have now taken over.

Consequently, my donations now go to the abandoned animals and any private sancturary - not the PDSA or RSPCA.
 
Pdsa

Hello, Dorothy and Jenyann. I remember taking my pet rabbit on the No 66 bus to the old PDSA. I also remember going with a friend of mine and her mother from Tamworth where I now live about 5 years ago to have her dog looked after. It was like going through customs! She had to produce proof she was on a pension, then they wanted to know why me or her daughter couldn't pay! It seems to me that as in your circumstances, prepared to pay the going rate would be a godsend to them to increase their funds. Such strange times we live in!
 
I can remember taking two or three kittens my poor old granny Neild couldn't look after, to the PDSA in Soho Hill, Handsworth, while she was in the early stages of what we now call Alzheimer's in 1956. I see from the directory that year, that the main PDSA was at 15 Islington Row, and that there were just two branches, at 134A Soho Hill and 267 Lichfield Road. A mobile surgery visited Dudley, Smethwick, Sheldon and Small Heath.
Peter
 
Pdsa

Thanks for the info, Peter. Though quite new to the forum, I think the more posts we get, the greater history we build about our great city. It may seem unimportant, irrelevant (I don't mean your post- just a word to new readers who may think their memories aren't important) but post what you remember- it builds a picture for future historians. Imagine the wealth of knowledge we would have if the internet was around in 1066!
 
Pdsa

Thanks for the memories. I used to take my cat to the PDSA on Litchfield Road, in the late 1940s and early 50's.
Put a few coppers in the donation box, and everything was ok. It wasn't too far to walk from Avenue Road, Aston, but the legs used to ache a bit when I got home after carrying an adult cat. I was only a kid.


Best wishes.


astonlad.
 
Pdsa

I can remember taking our budgie several times to the PDSA on Lichfield Road. I loved that silly bird! In those days I can never remember being rejected because I had no money. It was a case that the animal suffered if they didn't treat them in those days, as the last thing we could afford was to pay for medicine for a little bird. These days I would never own an animal if I couldn't look after it properly, but we can be grateful for those that did care when times were hard.
Lynda
 
My sister's dog got run over on the day of my Dad's funeral November 1969. My Brother and I took turns carrying the dead animal all the way from Long Acre to the PDSA by Aston bridge. We needed them to 'Dispose' of him (free of charge), we did offer a donation but during the course of conversation Dad's funeral came up and the vet would not take any money. You could say we had two funerals on that very sad day.

Pom :angel:
 
I am by no means an authority on this subject but from what I gather there weren't as many private vets around years ago (as there is now), and the PDSA was the place to take your ill or injured animal.

I remember as a child taking our budgie to the PDSA on Lichfield Road (I didn't know where else to take him as my Mom and Dad were at work and he had a prolapsed rectum).

Unfortunately are lot of people now try to get something for nothing and the PDSA have had to issue guide lines as to who can benefit for free treatment.

Unfortunately the genuine hardship cases (pensioners etc) don't always fit the criteria.

I have friends who work at the PDSA (vets and nurses) and the stories they tell me you wouldn't believe (or you would as the case may be).

Pedigree animals that have cost the owners several hundred of pounds - yet the owners say they are out of work, on benefits etc.etc. and arrive in expensive cars - Rolls Royces even.

Yes, this may be true in some cases, we all can fall on hard times but some owners borrow friends/relatives paperwork pretending they receive benefits and register the animal in their friends names.

It is so sad that an animal has to suffer and may not be able to receive free treatment because certain owners are milking the system.
 
Pdsa

What about all the charity shop's they now run,surely this must help in the running costs,I agree there are very selfish people abusing the pdsa. The mobile unit used to come round,not sure if it was fortnightly on a thursday morning,I remember going with my friend whose dog had been run over,times when dogs were let out to roam around the street's.
 
I am sorry folkes but this thread is going way off. Remember we are in the history section.
 
Can somebody tell me why my post has been removed? It wasn't offensive just a statement of facts! And it was in response to a question that was asked.
 
My Post Was Deleted Because I Spoke The Truth.and The Truth Must Hurt Some People.

Goodbye For Good.
 
jude Yes BillC, mine was deleted too, thought this was a democratic forum!

billc My Post Was Deleted Because I Spoke The Truth.and The Truth Must Hurt Some People.
Click to expand...

It is Jude and we hope a friendly happy one, but there is a rule against attacking and naming personalities and other members .
https://forum.birminghamhistory.co.uk/showthread.php?t=7999
We do not delete any postings in the history sections unless they are unsuitable or off topic.....
... personal attacks on other forum members will not be tolerated .....
Please do not post derogatory comments about people from the past. If your telling a story which might contain such comments please try to de-personalise it.
Click to expand...

BillC, as this thread is in the 'History' section it is the PDSA of the past that is the topic. We do like folk to try and stay on 'Topic' in this section as Moma P said and as is also stated in part of the posting rules see link above.....
just join in with the steady stream of nostalgia in the history sections. We are all guilty of posting off topic, but please do try to stick with the flow, this is especially important in the genealogy section and to a slightly lesser degree in the nostalgia section.
Click to expand...
If you wish to make comment about how it operates today a new thread should be started in the appropriate section.
Maybe here:
https://forum.birminghamhistory.co.uk/forumdisplay.php?f=71
However please make sure you read the rules of posting in this section too please.

Hope this helps clear up any misunderstandings :great:Have a good day.

Pom :angel:
 
Our dog Chummy was a great leaper, he could leap our back gate with ease, so he roamed a bit I'm afraid. He came home one day with a badly cut leg which needed stitches, so some how between mom, my sister and me we got him to Litchfield Road, He was like a wounded baby with his bandaged leg stuck out in front of him, couldn't possibly walk :rolleyes: so we had to carry him home to Witton.:)
 
We used to take our cat to the PDSA in Lichfield Road. I lived in Yew Tree Road so we walked, Serpentine Road, Holte Road Hill along Aston Hall Road and then that long passage by the side of the station? Anyone remember its name is it still there?

I always went with my father,usually when it was dark (presumbly after he came home from work at the GEC) and always with the cat in a shopping bag head peeping out of the top. No flash baskets then.

It was eventually put down there, I cried for what seems like forever.....I was sweet sixteen at the time .
Linda
 
re PDSA

The PDSA lichfield rd fantastic place i took my puppy there.which i bought
from the old rag market,they give im a jab and told me to give him caolin and morfine.He has got a upset stomach.19 years he lived for.The private vet i went to in the first place said oh distemper put im down. no i said.
 
A quick identifier for the long passage by Aston Station across the road from the PDSA was it called Lovers Lane?
 
Re: Name

Hi Linda,

The name of the street you mentioned, next to Aston station, was either Lovers Lane, or Lovers walk. It was still there four years ago when I last
visited Brum.

I have seen an old photo of the street, taken donkeys years ago.
Back to back houses and outside toilet block. I will see if I can find
the site again, and if I do, I will let you know so that you can see
the photo for yourself.

Best wishes.

astonlad.
 
Sorry to keep on about this, but some people are still confusing
'LOVERS WALK' B6 and 'LOVE LANE' B7
As posted before, if you go to this link you will find maps, a pic' and info' on both the Lane and the Walk. https://forum.birminghamhistory.co.uk...ad.php?t=10787
They are two different places, both in what was classed, or could have been classed at one time as the Aston area.

Pom :angel:
 
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