08/26/2024
š¢
I watched someoneās pet take their last breath. Then I went into the next room with a smile. I didnāt want to, but I did it anyway.
I finished performing CPR on a kitten that didnāt make it. Then I had to tell the owner. I didnāt want to, but I did it anyway.
I hugged someone as they picked up their petās ashes. Then I had to answer the phone with a welcoming voice. I didnāt want to, but I did it anyway.
I got yelled at by a pet owner over the phone for being too expensive. Then I had to empathetically take payment from someone who was sending their pet across the rainbow bridge. I didnāt want to, but I did it anyway.
I bagged someoneās pet they wouldāve paid anything to save. Then I had to go be empathetic as someoneās pet that could be saved wasnāt due to finances. I didnāt want to, but I did it anyway.
I cried in the bathroom during the 5 minutes I had between appointments. Then I had to go into the next room where an animal was neglected. I didnāt want to, but I did it anyway.
I watched an owner decline treatment for a fatal complication and take their pet home. Then I had to go to the next room like nothing happened. I didnāt want to, but I did it anyway.
I spent all day caring for other peopleās pets. Then I had to go home and take care of mine. I didnāt want to but I did it anyway.
In veterinary medicine we donāt have choices. We have things we surely donāt want to do, but we do it anyway. Part of it because of our āend sufferingā oath and part of it because itās in our nature. One thing I can tell you is none of it is easy and damn sure isnāt because we āwantā to. Yes, the small percentage of good outcomes outweigh the larger percentage of bad. But the good never stays with us. Itās the bad that forever damages our souls.
So the next time you think ātheyāre only in it for the moneyā or āthey donāt care about animalsā please remember not all of our smiles are real. Not all of our laughs are genuine. We do it because we have no choice. Half of the days we fake it to make it to the end. Our minds are tired and our hearts are heavy, but no matter what we will do it anyway š¤
***deawareness