15/08/2021
Hi. If you're reading this, its probably because you've got a friend who's working in the vet profession, and they're reaching out to you.
Vet professionals all chose to work with animals and their owners, farmers, stable owners, handlers, and all the many roles in our lives where we come across and care for animals. We all know full well that our pets, especially, bring massive joy and benefits to our lives. We chose to study, train, practice, dedicate years of our lives to train as surgeons, nurses, receptionists - all the roles you expect to be in place for the care of your animal when needed. For many, five or more years at university is merely the beginning - further qualifications, courses, certificates, diplomas, specialisms - and our profession is always advancing knowledge, investing in facilities, researching best treatments, always striving to get best care and best outcomes for our patients.
Currently, the vet profession worldwide is under pressure, and hand in hand with staffing shortages has come, sadly, an increasing volume of bad behaviour from our clients.
We are here to serve you and your pets; we're used to the odd snap and snarl from a painful pet; we know how to dodge even a well-aimed hoof or a tetchy cat scratch. We know and understand this behaviour, and we can generally cope just fine.
However, harsh words, ugly reviews, verbal attacks from clients - these may just be words, but they do hurt. And they are often - almost always - unfair. Sometimes bills for vet care are a significant amount of money, and if that combines with owners who haven't got appropriate insurance cover, it can create a problem. Well, medical care is expensive - in the UK, we aren't exposed to that cost, because of our fantastic NHS. Every whinge about delays, every complaint about costs, is hurtful - and I tell you, we're a pretty robust bunch, generally.
The fees you pay for veterinary care do not go straight in a vet's or nurse's pocket. Vet's incomes are often half or even a third of what a comparably qualified doctor or dentist might earn, after very similar training periods. Nurse's incomes are a scandal, and sometimes not much above minimum wage. Extra duties, overtimes, late finishes are rife to the point of standard- and actually, where they involve providing patient care, rarely complained about.
If you could just see behind the scenes in veterinary practices the effort, the care, the desperation to heal and give comfort, the dedication to our patients welfare, you would not, I hope, for one moment choose to sneer or snap at these people, my colleagues. I hope - I believe - you'd look on in wonder, maybe raise your hands to applaud, but definitely say thank you; and well done; for all that they give - every shift, every day, through their careers.
Please - if you read this, and you know some vet nurses, veterinary surgeons, any vet practice staff - send them a hello, a 'hey up', a message of support. They're working their asses off right now, and need a reminder that the public is right on their side.
