The Village Vet

Walk into The Village Vet in Downer and something feels different before you can quite put your finger on why. 

The waiting area is calm and light-filled, painted in a fear-free colour palette chosen specifically to settle animals on arrival. Dogs and cats get their own separate entrances to reduce transit stress. 

None of this is by accident. This is the result of a carefully designed approach to a great experience for pets – and their owners.

Who’s Behind The Village Vet

Dr. Kimberley Godwin, who grew up on the Gold Coast, graduated from the University of Queensland in 2003 and spent the next several years working her way around the world. Five years across England. Even a stint volunteering with the Greek Cat Welfare Society in Corfu, looking after stray cats on a Mediterranean island. 

She eventually landed in Canberra – her husband’s hometown – and it stuck. She bought The Village Vet in July 2021, inheriting a two-vet practice and growing it to eight vets since. Renovations are planned for later in the year to add more consulting space as the inner north’s pet owning community continues to grow.

The decision to stay as independent ownership was deliberate. Running her own practice means staying connected to her clients and, she believes, results in better outcomes for our pets.

The time and space to properly diagnose your pet

The Village Vet operates as a one-stop shop: blood tests, X-rays, ultrasounds, and surgery all happen on site, which means fewer referrals and faster answers. 

“Other clinics might have 15 or 20 minutes, just in, out. But that’s not what we want to do here. We want to spend more time with our clients, get a full history, and really take time examining their pet.” 

~ Dr. Kimberley Godwin

A community first approach to veterinary care

Godwin’s business partner, Dr. Alison Taylor, was recently named Woman Veterinarian of the Year at the GapOnly Veterinary Awards. Alison also coordinates veterinary teams travelling to Arnhem Land to desex dogs in Indigenous communities. 

The Village Vet is also involved with Pets in the Park, a Canberra charity that provides free veterinary care to the pets of people experiencing homelessness on Sunday mornings.

The clinic sits next to a popular dog park and the busy Gang Gang Café, and Kimberley says most new clients still come through word of mouth. It’s a good sign that the neighbourhood is paying attention. 

When she is not at the clinic, Kimberley is out at her five-acre property in Wamboin with her family, a flock of chickens, and a small herd of alpacas acquired, she says, for very practical reasons: low maintenance, good for keeping the grass down. “And they’re super cute.” 

Ready to find a vet your pet actually enjoys visiting?

You can find the Village Vet on Frencham Place in Downer. The clinic is currently welcoming new patients, and same-day slots are kept aside for urgent cases. Whether you are new to the area or just overdue for a change, it is worth making the call. Highly recommended!