In my favorite photograph, I am three years old holding a stethoscope up to the chest of my black lab, Napoleon. I could never verbalize my instinctual desire to pursue a career in veterinary medicine until October of 2019. I was volunteering at the Downtown Clinic (DTC), a primary health care clinic for low-income individuals in Laramie, WY. One day a man walked in, and although dogs were not typically allowed in the clinic, they always made an exception for his pug, Daisy, who followed right behind him. I will never forget the look of adoration Daisy had or the warmth and kindness that emitted from the man's gaze as he looked back at her. As I watched this beautiful interaction, I began to feel uneasy. He was here because he could not afford his own health care, and as I petted Daisy, I could not help but wonder what that meant for her veterinary care.
At that moment, I knew I had to do something not only for Daisy's well-being and other animals in similar situations but also for her owner. The unconditional love, affection, and attachment he had for his very best friend were unmistakable. I feared some sort of veterinary emergency could pose a threat to this relationship, and there were few things more heartbreaking than the thought of Daisy and her person being separated. This short interaction inspired me to begin designing a program to provide more accessible veterinary health care to Laramie's low-income community. My goal is to partner the DTC with the Laramie Animal Welfare Society, local veterinary clinics, the Wyoming State Veterinary Laboratory, and the Wyoming Pre-Veterinary Club to offer basic veterinary care at a reduced cost. Driven by this desire to help, I interviewed 40 DTC pet owners and discovered that 95% of them could not afford a veterinary emergency. This program and others like it are something I will continue to create and integrate into veterinary practice for the rest of my life.
I have always wanted to help people through helping their animals, and as I continue on my path in the veterinary world, I plan to contribute to the intersection between animal welfare and human services. My focus is geared toward keeping pets and people together and preventing animals from being surrendered or euthanized due to a lack of resources, preventative medicine, and access to veterinary care. Author Leslie Irvine perfectly encapsulated the essence of what motivates me when she interviewed Whit, a homeless man from Miami, Florida in her book,
My Dog Always Eats First. Whit's emotional and painful story was one of loss and heartache. The local police took his dogs to a kill shelter and Whit exclaimed, "They took my family away!" As tears filled his eyes, he said "I felt so lost without 'em... They was all I had." This is why I want to be a veterinarian. For animals like Daisy and the ones euthanized at the Miami pound. For people like Whit and Daisy's owner.
#AccesstoCare#Diversity,Equity,InclusionandJustice------------------------------
Clara Delahaye
Veterinary Technician
Laramie Animal Welfare Society
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