17/05/2025
Vets do not play God. We are not God.
Official Statement. On Veterinarian Shaming, Online Harassment, and the Safety of Lives and Charitable Veterinary Work.
Veterinary Medicine is not an exact science. Despite all due diligence, there will always be several factors beyond the control of the practitioner that can impact the outcome of a procedure. This is something that most pet owners do not know resulting in veterinarian being blamed.
The Philippine College of Canine Practitioners (PCCP) stand in solidarity with all licensed veterinarians who have become targets of unjust public shaming and online harassment. We are deeply alarmed by recent incidents where a veterinarian has been maliciously accused and publicly vilified due to false and misleading claims from a disgruntled client.
This deliberate spread of misinformation has led to personal threats, emotional trauma, and a serious risk to the safety of her family, as well as damage to her professional reputation. What began as a clinical disagreement has now escalated into an attack on a private citizen and healthcare professional who has committed her life to the well-being of animals and to serving her communityโincluding the underprivileged through charity events and pro bono work.
Let us be clear:
Veterinarians are not the enemy. We are medical professionals operating under scientific principles, ethics, and legal guidelines to protect both animal and public health.
Online defamation, threats, and harassment are criminal acts. No disagreementโno matter how emotionally chargedโjustifies putting a personโs life and livelihood at risk.
False accusations have far-reaching consequences. Apart from the personal toll on the veterinarian and her family, these attacks discourage others from participating in outreach missions, mobile clinics, and charity drives that benefit less fortunate animals and communities.
We understand that losing a beloved pet is heartbreakingโand as veterinarians, we carry that pain too. But we must also speak an uncomfortable truth: too often, when outcomes are not as hoped, the blame is placed solely on the veterinarian. Many pet owners do not realize that veterinary medicine, like human medicine, is not an exact science. Animals cannot describe their pain, conditions can progress silently, and responses to treatment can vary.
Despite our best efforts, knowledge, and diligence, there are factors beyond our control. Veterinarians are not gods, and we do not play god. We make decisions based on training, evidence, and genuine care for every animal we treat. But when things go wrong, we are frequently blamedโharshly, and sometimes unfairly. We ask for empathy and understanding. Just as doctors are not faulted for every loss in human hospitals, veterinarians deserve the same respect and acknowledgment of the complexities and uncertainties we face every day.
The PCCP condemns this behavior in the strongest possible terms.
We urge the public to be responsible and discerning before sharing unverified claims online. Social media is not a courtroom, and emotional outrage is not a substitute for facts.
We also call on our fellow veterinarians, clients, animal welfare advocates, and relevant authorities to protect and support our frontline professionals. If you have concerns about veterinary care, there are established, legal, and ethical avenues to seek resolution. Harassment, cyberbullying, and public character assassination are never the answer.
To our colleagues in the field: Know that you are not alone. The PCCP remains committed to upholding your rights, your safety, and your dignity in practice. We will continue to work toward a culture of respect, collaboration, and accountabilityโwhere both people and animals can thrive.
Let us move forward together, with compassion guided by truth, and advocacy grounded in responsibility.
Philippine College of Canine Practitioners
Serving with Excellence. Standing for Integrity.
