FIRST-TIME animal breeders can now have access to their very own midwives.

Watkins and Tasker Veterinary Group, which has branches in Nailsea, Portishead and Yatton, has recently launched its new midwifery service aimed at those with a cat or dog they have decided to breed from.

The service has been requested by customers who attended talks on breeding and sees a dedicated veterinary nurse on-call at the time of birth as well as follow-up visits and support.

Veterinary nurse Michelle Cox, who recently saw the arrival of her own collie puppies, said: “People want to enjoy the experience but there’s quite a lot of stress involved. So if there’s something we can do as a professional practice to provide reassurance and support for the client, that’s got to be a positive thing for everyone involved.”