DAUGHTER OF A DENTIST AND A
nurse, and sister to a doctor,
I was likely to follow a career
in a medical field. Committed as a
youngster to becoming a veterinary
surgeon, I eventually secured a place
at Cambridge University.
I have an abiding memory of Dr Leslie Hall,
often known as the ‘father of veterinary
anaesthesia’, who initiated the careful
monitoring of anesthetised animals using
sophisticated equipment. He told us that
the most useful equipment of all was our
own senses. Hence, I learned to notice
what I saw, felt, sometimes smelt, and
heard, sometimes through a stethoscope.
I also learned to listen deeply
to the owners of these
beloved animals, to take
their concerns very
seriously and to respect
them. I was privileged to
be told of the strong
emotional link a dog or cat may have with
a deceased spouse or parent and come
alongside people as they said goodbye to
a terminally ill pet. Clients sometimes
discussed their own medical or mental
health struggles, and the 15 minutes I had
with them was never long enough.
This was part of the reason I began to
consider a call to the ministry, in order
to spend longer with people, and
in 2015 I was ordained as an
Associate Priest in the Church
of England, whilst still working
as a vet.
Veterinary surgeons have to acquire a wide
knowledge of many different medical and
surgical specialities, and the welfare of the
animal remains of paramount importance.
This keeps in view the quality of life that
we are aiming for in both animals and