14/06/2026
DR. J SAYS:
June 14, 2026
TIME TO BLOW THE HORN OF OUR FACEBOOK PAGE!:
Sunday morning at the clinic for a coupla hours..... Kinda like most Sunday mornings...... My wife hates it. Probably be back here for a coupla more tomorrow morning (ie, Monday- my day off).
But I find it useful. Do my best thinking when not caught up in the hustle/ bustle of daily practice life. Sometimes (rarely, it seems), that thinking could be on a beach somewhere south. It's just good catchup time- no different than any other small business owner, I think! Get up early while Jan's still sleeping, and catch up on practice details. I've come to believe it matters, and makes a difference. Not gonna change at this point.
I just now got off the 'NOT ONE MORE VET' (NOMV) page. As the name suggests, it was started to help veterinarians who were suicidal; we are, after all & tragically, number one amongst the professions for such.
It's kinda evolved into a chat site, mostly for those struggling with their mental health & work 'predicaments'.
Oh my..... Depending on the writer/ topic, I can only last for about 1 entry. Most of the posts are overwhelmingly negative.
And so, I'm choosing a different route here!....
I quickly glanced at our last 3 'Small Creatures' FB entries. The topics were: a successful pigeon rescue effort by Christine, a 'camouflaged kitten' by Christina, and a post of 'Aldor Acres puppies'. So proud of the staff here for taking initiative on these things. Yes, I bug them sometimes about making an entry every week or so, but a high percentage of the time they take the initiative on both the timing & topic of the posts. I think their work is superb.
A few weeks ago, the number of followers of the 'Small Creatures' site passed 1,000. It's taken some time, but it was another one of those 'markers', to me, of how this tiny, 'hole-in'the-wall' practice continues to amaze. Thirty-two years in, we're having our most productive year ever. Stunning.
This in contrast to the NOMV site. I have some ideas on what has caused such disenchantment amongst these (mostly younger?) veterinarians, but discussion of such is well beyond the scope of a 'DR. J ARTICLE'. And I can only view this from my own perspective.
Is veterinary medicine a 'life-sucking' profession?... Perhaps. Am I here on a Sunday (and Monday) morning?.... Yes.... I may not be a real good example of 'work-life-balance'.
But after this, gonna go out for brunch with Jan, and then head to Cultus for some gardening. It's a beautiful day. Just now yacked in the parking lot for half an hour with a client who initially attempted to run me down with his pickup truck. Need to water the tomatoes at the side of the clinic. 'Obi' (TWD) is crashed by my side as I write. Lots of people are out with their dog for an early morning walk, and they stop by the outside treat pot for a doggy goodie. Many of them wave. I can't possibly go to 'Save-On' without running into 2 or 3 clients (it's actually an unfair advantage- I have my green pyjamas on, and the lights noticably glare on my follicularly-challenged head)
It's a good gig, I think.
Have a s(well) day!
Go Canada @ the FIFA tournament.
Respectfully,
DR. J
