7th November 2011
States of Guernsey hired its first independent vet
The States of Guernsey hired its first full-time vet in 2011. The successful candidate, David Chamberlain, had already worked as a vet on Guernsey since 1987. After a successful career that included an invention and a buy-out he was appointed to the part-time role on 7 November.
A varied career
After studying at the Royal Veterinary College, Chamberlain spent 21 years working as a general practitioner at Isabel Vets. Meanwhile, in the late 1990s, he came up with the idea of using the identifying microchip placed in most cats’ necks as a virtual key. It worked rather like the remote keys used to lock and unlock cars. Chamberlain had spotted that as the chip could be read wirelessly for identification purposes, that positive identifier could be used to unlock a catflap.
Thus, he invented PetPorte and, in the process, patented the microchip controlled flap. Production began on Guernsey and ran to 10,000 units a month, according to an interview in Official Vet Magazine.
Radio Systems Corporation later bought the intellectual property associated with the automated flap. It took on Chamberlain as a consultant.
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Other events that occured in November
Guernsey was declared free of cholera
- Cholera struck Guernsey twice in the 19th century - in 1832 and 1849
- Read more…
Guernsey Yacht Club was founded
- The Yacht Club is now based in its own premises in St Peter Port Harbour.
- Read more…
A plane crashed on Crevichon
- The Heinkel He 111 had been bound for London but was unable to deliver its bombs on the city
- Read more…
Sark featured in the music charts
- Irish performer Enya named her 2015 album Dark Sky Island, after Sark
- Read more…