Perspective

No one can argue that 2020 hasn’t been challenging. If you are like me, you may have found yourself reflecting on your life while hiding in the closet from your children. Sorry, I mean reflecting on your life while taking some “me-time” in the closet. I hit a major milestone this year. Twenty years in practice. Where did the time go? I miss the days of study group, anatomy lab, and brisk fall days spent outside doing rectal exams on cows.

I currently work at the American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (ASPCA) in New York City and have been here for ten years. The ASPCA is a national non-profit animal welfare organization that supports communities to help vulnerable, at-risk animals and keep pets in safe, loving homes. When I started my path to become a veterinarian, I never expected to live in New York City or work in animal welfare. Never. In. A. Million. Years. Instead, I saw myself in private practice living on a farm strolling through sun-filled fields of wildflowers and tall grass with my dogs on my way to my next housecall. How did I wind up so seemingly far off track yet feeling I am exactly where I am meant to be?

I’m not one of those people who wanted to be a veterinarian since I was a kid. In fact, when I went to college, I wanted to be a lawyer like my dad. Then I decided I wanted to be an organic farmer (I went to a hippie college), then a marine biologist, then a paleontologist, then a (fill in the blank). You get the picture. Not atypical for one with a liberal arts education.

It all changed one day when I found out a guy that lived down the hall from me in my dorm was studying to be a veterinarian. I thought that sounded like fun, even though I was terrified of big dogs and hated math and science. So that’s what I did. I attacked the science requirements and only cried a little (actually a lot) while taking physics. I got over my fear of dogs by volunteering to work with big scary livestock guarding dogs. Applied and miraculously got into vet school. I loved vet school and still consider it to be one of the best times of my life.

It wasn’t all unicorns and rainbows, though; I matched to an internship in New York City (UGHHHHH) when I wanted to go to Colorado. What happened to the sun, farm, and wildflowers? But NYC grew on me, and I stayed for seven years after my internship. I worked as a general practitioner in a fancy Upper East Side practice, where pet owners had resources to provide top-notch care for their animals. 

After a while, I got a little bored or restless, or something that I can’t quite put my finger on; what I was doing no longer felt satisfying to me. I dabbled with the idea of specializing and even applied to residencies. I felt frustrated and lost. I thought maybe a detour to Boston to work as an emergency veterinarian in a 24-hour specialty practice would help. It didn’t. I loved the work and my co-workers but hated staying up all night. 

Just before my move to Boston, I worked at the ASPCA for a short time. My primary responsibility was to support the veterinary internship program, which was new at the time. I was not directly involved in much animal welfare work; however, I had enough exposure to realize that the work was important and necessary. This realization stuck with me during my time in Boston. I came back to the ASPCA a couple of years later to pursue a career in animal welfare. Daily, as an ASPCA forensic veterinarian, I see the horrible things people do to animals. However, daily, I also see the powerful bond that exists between people and animals and the lengths to which pet owners will go to keep their pets safe and healthy. This has been especially true during the pandemic when so many pet owners are struggling to provide for their animals, often sacrificing their own needs to care for their pets. At last I feel satisfied. Through my work, I feel proud knowing that I’m helping to positively impact animals and people, and it feels good.

Veterinary medicine is such a rewarding profession for many reasons, even though we all have days where it does not feel that way. It is unique in that there are always opportunities to do something new. Be brave and take advantage of those opportunities as you never know where they will lead you. Wear a mask, wash your hands, take me-time in the closet, and always know that no matter how you get there, you will always end up exactly where you are meant to be.

We at the ASPCA are hoping to hear about some of your own experiences in the field. If you are employed in veterinary practice in any role (veterinarian, technician, assistant, client services, etc.), would you give us 15-20 minutes of your time by completing this anonymous survey to help us learn about your work and how we can best support your animal welfare efforts?

Laura N. Niestat DVM, MS
Forensic Veterinarian
Policy, Response, and Engagement
ASPCA®

The views and opinions expressed in this article are those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the position of the DrAndyRoark.com editorial team.

There is no doubt that the last few months have been incredibly difficult for all of us. From having to pivot not only in our personal lives but for many of us, also our professional lives, the last few months have tried and tested most of us! 

The last few months have been challenging for me as a mother of twin toddlers, hospital manager of a busy GP right in the heart of the NY metro area, and senior dog mom. Trying to navigate childcare, or lack thereof, manage the hospital’s needs (especially being in the middle of the epicenter of COVID for a large part of the last few months), and manage the medical care of an elderly pug who was rapidly losing his ability to hold his urinary bladder but also not-so-slowly losing his ability to be mobile (he was becoming paralyzed in his hind end) was more than overwhelming up against the backdrop of a global pandemic. 

Working with the incredible staff at the veterinary clinic made even the most stressful days better. The staff came in knowing they were there for the purpose of creating a better world for pets and they live(d) that day in and day out. Amongst the uncertainty of what the next day would bring, each member of my incredible staff would come to work in good spirits and ready to take on whatever was thrown at them. From curbside struggles to client’s expectations being, sometimes, a bit unreasonable – they took it in stride. Their optimism has made coming to work enjoyable even though so much of my personal life felt like it was falling apart around me. 

In April, my husband contracted COVID-19 which meant my entire family had to quarantine. Luckily during the week leading up to him becoming ill, the hospital was closed due to staffing issues. Since no one was working, no one else had to quarantine and the hospital staff remained safe and the hospital once reopened, stayed open. 

Being home was both a blessing and a curse. We tried to keep my husband quarantined but in such a small space it was nearly impossible. A few days into quarantine our son and I became ill which made it even harder to care for my husband. Despite a few weeks of sickness, we are a very lucky family as we had minor symptoms and, while I had more breathing issues than my husband or my son, and my daughter never got sick at all, we all have recovered and have been back to work and school (daycare) since the end of April. 

Being away from the hospital for three weeks right in the middle of some of the most uncertain times was really tough for me. Trying to support the staff from home was hard, but their mission to care for pets was clear and they supported me from afar despite my inability to support them the way they had become accustomed to prior to my quarantine. 

As we prepare to start sending our children back to school in whatever capacity that may be, having a job to come to where, despite the uncertainty, I know that I’m walking into a building full of like-minded individuals all ready to do whatever needs to be done to make sure pets are cared for, really helps ease any of the anxiety that I normally would have had working during this time. I have been blessed with a team that works well together and supports each other regardless of job title. 

A week or so ago my husband and I made the devastatingly difficult decision to euthanize our elderly pug. His hind end was progressing rapidly, his blood pressure medication was not seeming to keep his blood pressure under control. His tracheal collapse was getting worse so quickly that I was worried he would have a catastrophic respiratory event and it was my worst nightmare thinking he could suffocate to death. Working as the hospital manager, I decided to wait for the end of the day on a Friday so I could still be available before shutting off my phone for the weekend (let’s face it, I needed a few days away). While I tend to be a more private person, my staff made sure to do everything they could to make one of the worst days of my life a little bit easier. They checked in on me, made sure I ate and asked me how they could be there for me and allowed me to set my own boundaries which was incredibly helpful.

Saying goodbye to our best friend, our first child, our first dog together, after 12 years was one of the hardest things my husband and I have had to do – and trust me when I tell you we’ve been through a lot together. Despite having worked as an oncology technician for years and having been present for more euthanasias than I’d like to recall, there’s something much different about it when it’s your own. I will forever be thankful for the staff members who worked that day and those who sent their condolences and checked in on me the days following. 

Some of the most impactful things I’ve learned over the last few months have come from the hardest moments. I’ve learned how resilient a staff can be if they are communicated to in an honest and transparent way. I promised them from day one that I would tell them what was going on the moment I found out so they would always be in the know. During some of the most uncertain times of our lives, being able to provide information has been vital in keeping the team’s spirits up.

I’ve learned that it’s okay to lean on others when your life feels like it’s falling apart around you, and that good people really do exist! Having supporting and understanding coworkers and staff members has been vital in my ability to maintain my mental health over these last few months, especially over the last few weeks. 

Despite having had a difficult few months and weeks, and no real end in sight, I know that together we are going to be OK! 

My advice to anyone struggling to find the positive in all the negative around us is to lean on those who are a positive influence in your life, and know that you are not alone. If there’s one thing we can all relate to it is the current struggles regardless of the intricate specifics, the overall feeling of “suck” is something we can all understand! We’ve all been forced to stretch, to find new ways of doing things, and to be flexible. In a world full of uncertainty it’s been refreshing to have a constant reminder that when a group of people comes together for a common purpose, no amount of uncertainty can stop them! 

The views and opinions expressed in this article are those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the position of the DrAndyRoark.com editorial team.

Are you a person who thrives on routine? Someone who enjoys the comfort of a day to day regiment that is predictable and somewhat comforting? I am! I have worked in the same location for almost 20 years, I drive the same way to work every day, I eat the same thing for lunch daily (I do change it up about every 2 years). I know I am plain vanilla, predictable, robotic me. This predictability annoys some, amuses others, and makes the closet control addict secretly happy knowing they are not alone.

My predictable and happy life was right on track, or better yet, in a deep trodden rut going nowhere. I was happily plodding through life like a little minion joyously doing the same thing day in and day out. Then March of 2020 came with an atomic bomb of a boom, launching my routine into space without any hope of finding an orbit that resembled any type of normalcy.  

As a family, we decided to pick up and move a little closer to work to lessen my commute and get our kids enrolled in a better school district. Great, I thought, no longer will I need to commute 90 minutes a day. I was daily motivating myself to embrace this change as awesome and exciting. I almost had myself fully convinced, then COVID-19 exploded onto the scene.

At this point in my life, my house is half packed and barely feels like home anymore and now my workplace is as stable as sinking sand.  Every day new problems are arising causing previous protocols to melt into the past like trees under molten lava. PIVOT is what is required; shift, change, adapt or be left in the wake of COVID. So I did.

As I sat back and evaluated my rut, I realized that I had worn my path so deep that I couldn’t even see the beauty of life around me. I thought about my favorite place, the beach, where the palm trees all grow with swayed and bent trunks. Palm trees can withstand hurricane-force winds because they give into the wind and change the direction they are growing. They survive what life throws at them. The thick trunks of oaks are too stiff and unyielding; they split and uproot when faced with the same winds. 

Embracing change means surviving and redirecting your path so you will be there to enjoy the rainbow after the storm. Routine feels safe, but it can prevent you from growing and blossoming into the best you. When your apple cart is upset, or your proverbial cheese is moved, you might be frustrated or bitter. There are always disappointments in life, you can choose to be disappointed in your circumstance or choose the discomfort of flowing with the change. Only time will tell if the change is bad or beautiful.

I have embraced the changes! Through this metamorphosis, I have found joy. Joy in the adventures of driving different routes to and from work, venturing out to find new running trails, and even mixing up my lunch menu. I still follow the same method when performing routine surgeries and physical exams, but I am pivoting with the constant changes around me. How I am adjusting, I am adapting my reaction to the situation, changing my mindset from a resounding “NO” to a gentle “Let’s see where this new adventure takes us.” 

I urge you to pause and see if you are in a rut, frightened to experience the change, if so remember an oak won’t survive the storm, but a palm tree will. 

Maybe change doesn’t unsettle you, but you know someone with a fear of change. They need you, be patient with them. Their self made cocoon of routine will someday be shed away to reveal them as a beautiful butterfly.  Most likely they will need your help in the cocoon hatching process, be available! In this life we all have paths to travel, I encourage each of you to keep your expectations on your own path, but pour out your compassion and empathy on the paths of those around you. Some of us are oaks, some are palm trees, and some are tumbleweeds; together we can help each other navigate the storms.  

The views and opinions expressed in this article are those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the position of the DrAndyRoark.com editorial team.