My
original intention for this particular column was to write about my “pet
peeves” in veterinary practice. In fact,
I had written three detailed paragraphs of peeves, before I realized the very
negative tone my column was taking on. At that moment, I decided instead to
celebrate the “reason for the season” and acknowledge the things in veterinary
medicine that I am grateful for. With apologies to my turkey patients, I would
like to share my reasons for being a “thankful veterinarian.”
Without
a doubt, my greatest delight in my profession is the numerous opportunities I
have on a daily basis for hands-on contact with my four-legged patients. I feel
so very blessed to be able to see, pet, talk to and care for animals day in and
day out. My day and every veterinarian’s day is naturally filled with
heartwarming, blood pressure-lowering experiences that make smiles frequent and
easy.
Over time, veterinary
professionals become experts at animal body language and I love being able to
discern what pets so desperately want to communicate. Nothing is better than the Golden Retriever
whose exuberance overwhelms him as he flops belly-side up at my feet, or the
tail-less Welsh Corgi that must “wag” her entire bottom to share her joy at my
appearance.
During my daily
toilings, I also get to be “schmoozed” by my feline patients that have lowered
themselves to my “human level” to participate in my physical examinations. In
addition, I’m keenly aware of my unhappy feline patients’ vocabularies and
airplane ears when they disapprove of my actions. I have learned from many of my feline
patients that I must aspire to “schmooze” them if I truly want to win
acceptance into their club.
Not all of my
patients are jubilant to see me, and therefore, I take on challenges of winning
their love in my daily activities. I actually enjoy assessing a situation with
an unruly animal and turning it into a more pleasant and safe experience for
all involved. Often, these situations
involve working with the animal, not against it. I am grateful for the ability to seize the
moment, if you will, to bring order to an often well-deserved animal protest.
Another great
pleasure for me is being able to bring my own pets to work everyday. While I strongly believe that there should be
pets somewhere in every workplace, I also realize that this rarely happens. I
am so very fortunate that there is no question that my pets will be at my place
of employment. They give me tremendous
gratification as they share my daily life and I would have it no other way.
I am also deeply
appreciative of the fact that I am not only surrounded by animals, my love and
livelihood, but also by exceptional, animal-adoring people, my employees. Support staff in a veterinary office are special
people with inherent compassion and kindness for animals and people. I take great pride in hiring and maintaining
employees who reflect my own adoration of and desire to care for animals and
people.
Veterinarians and
their employees participate in another daily experience that brings enchantment
to all of us, namely the observation of the “human-animal bond.” To view the
love and kindness that is shared between humans and animals is an unsurpassed
experience that I am delighted by everyday, be it at a proud puppy owner’s
first visit or during a heartrending goodbye to an aged or ailing pet. I am so
very grateful that there will always be animals and there will always be people
who love them unconditionally.
Undoubtedly, my
greatest blessing in life has been my veterinary education. A few years ago at
a Thanksgiving gathering as my family sat down to a feast-filled table, we took
a moment to each express what we were grateful for. Some searched to come up with an expression
of gratitude, but it was a no-brainer for me.
Besides my family, my greatest gift in life is my veterinary education,
as it has given me everything in my life that makes me who I am…from the
ability to have a happy marriage to another veterinarian and a home on a
beautiful farm with animals I adore, to a job that I can whole-heartedly and
still say I am thankful for and love.
By Dr. Bonnie Jones
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