The problem was that there were no more rolls of coins in the register. People were starting to get impatient. Some were making under-their-breath comments like, “I hope I age well…” Even I was beginning to feel frustrated. It was a Friday afternoon, after all. Then I thought to myself that at least he hadn’t chosen a busy Saturday morning, when everyone is in a rush and the lines seem endless.

When the coins finally arrived, the elderly man, whom I later understood was named Mr. Paul, gently handed one coin to the cashier and the other to the woman standing nearby, who had been listening to him. Perhaps she was the manager.

That small gesture touched me.

I started paying attention to their conversation. He was showing them a photo of Mimine, a black-and-white female cat. An actual printed photograph, not an image on a phone. Mimine had passed away, and this elderly man was heartbroken.

The loss of a pet can be profound

My first thought was that Mimine was probably his last cat, given his age.

Behind him, another customer grew impatient again. This time, it truly upset me. How could anyone remain indifferent to an elderly man simply talking about the cat he had lost? He wasn’t trying to inconvenience anyone. He was looking for a little understanding, a little humanity.

The loss of a pet is often minimized by those around us. Yet for many people, especially seniors, a dog or cat is much more than just an animal. They are a daily presence, a routine, a source of affection, and sometimes even a person’s primary companion.

Pets help break isolation

I felt tremendous empathy for Mr. Paul, but also immense gratitude toward the cashier and the other woman who took the time to listen.

Animals have an incredible ability to break isolation, create connections, and provide an essential presence in lives that can sometimes be very quiet. I couldn’t help but respond to the impatient customers:

“To age well, you have to learn to appreciate life’s little moments.”

I suspect they thought I was a little strange, too focused on the two minutes that this grieving elderly man had “cost” them.

The loss of a cat or dog leaves a lasting void

Dear little Mimine, I’m certain you were a wonderful companion, and that your passing left a tremendous void in your human’s heart. Had I been your veterinarian, your loss would have left me heartbroken as well.

Pet loss is very real. Even when it is invisible to others, it can be deeply painful. Behind the loss of a dog or cat, there is often a story of love, loyalty, and quiet companionship.

Let’s remember that.

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Here are the three main reasons why I wanted to become a veterinarian. I believe they also explain why I’ve been successful both professionally and personally. Because after twelve years of practice, I still love my job. Whenever a young person is interested in becoming a companion animal veterinarian, I share my original motivations with them. It’s important to truly understand what you’re getting into before committing fully.

1) I love science

I love biology, math, and chemistry. I don’t love physics, but I still had to push myself to study it and earn good grades to reach my goals. Learning how the body works, how it can suffer from certain conditions, and how it can be repaired through medicine is incredibly fascinating. Modern medicine is amazing, and what we are able to do today as veterinarians leaves me in awe.

That said, it’s important to know that becoming a veterinarian requires a tremendous amount of studying. You must memorize many scientific concepts before being able to practice and help patients. Even after being accepted into veterinary school, you continue learning basic principles that initially seem far removed from the profession itself. But with determination, you get there—and it’s incredibly rewarding.

2) I love people

Veterinarians work closely with their colleagues and team members every day, but also with pet owners. I love building relationships with them and supporting them through both good and difficult times, using a professional and compassionate approach. I love watching their children grow up and come see me with their very first pet. The trust and bond that can develop are almost as incredible as the medicine we get to practice.

As a small animal veterinarian, I must never forget the person on the other side of the exam table or at the end of the leash. And the best way to help an animal is to work as a team with their human.

3) I love animals

This may seem obvious, but it deserves reflection. I love healthy, cute, friendly animals. I also love those with skin problems, kidney disease, or terrible breath. In fact, as a veterinarian, I am the voice of all animals. Since they can’t speak, I sometimes have to “translate” their needs so their families can better understand them. I also love and know animals well enough to help them—and their families—let go when the time comes.

The truth is, I don’t always see puppies and kittens just starting their lives. Watching my patients grow and change through every stage of their lives can bring many challenges. But it is truly rewarding.

In short, I love my profession. It’s a beautiful career with so many possibilities, but it requires perseverance and determination. That’s important to know. Once in the field, daily life is filled with wonderful stories, but also with challenges. All of these aspects of the veterinary profession are important to consider before choosing to practice veterinary medicine. As for me, I wouldn’t change careers for anything in the world. It fulfills me completely. I chose it for the right reasons and followed my heart. Working with animals and their humans is a daily joy.

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Catherine, how did you choose to pursue veterinary medicine?

As far back as I can remember, I’ve always loved animals. I grew up in the countryside, in the small village of Lac-Etchemin in the Chaudière-Appalaches region. My parents owned a fish farm. We had several dogs, and I loved observing animals in the forest. The recent passing of Jane Goodall made me realize just how much of an inspiration she had been to me. This British primatologist and anthropologist, who dedicated her life to studying chimpanzees, sparked two major dreams in me: becoming a veterinarian and going to Africa.

Why was she so inspiring to you as a child?

I found her research fascinating. In fact, when I started veterinary school, I wanted to work with wildlife. After completing several internships related to wildlife, I found myself with two options: practicing exotic/zoo medicine at the Ecomuseum Zoo, or pursuing a master’s degree on ticks.

And you chose ticks?

Yes! (laughs) Two years earlier, I had done an internship in Africa, in Kenya and Tanzania! With two fellow students, we noticed that the most heavily parasitized cows were often blind. Local veterinarians explained that their blindness was caused by a blood parasite transmitted by ticks. The economic consequences were major for local residents, whose subsistence herds were severely affected. That’s when I realized the impact that the work of a veterinary epidemiologist can have on both animal and human health.

Now that you work as a veterinary epidemiologist at the Public Health Agency of Canada, do you still go into the field to collect ticks?

Of course! I’m an adjunct professor at the Faculty of Veterinary Medicine at the Université de Montréal, and I sometimes accompany master’s or doctoral students in the field. However, I now devote a larger portion of my time to designing and managing research projects, in collaboration with Canadian university professors, other researchers, and various government organizations.

When you talk about your work as an epidemiologist studying ticks, how do people react?

It depends! (laughs) Some are fascinated and ask me tons of questions, while others struggle to hide their disgust. In short, ticks leave no one indifferent! And that’s a good thing, because they are a real public health issue. Ticks can transmit bacteria, viruses, or other pathogens to humans through a bite. The most well-known of these diseases is Lyme disease, caused by the bacterium Borrelia.

Is there a link with climate change?

Yes, absolutely. When I began studying ticks during my doctoral studies in 2008, I worked in the field from June to October. Today, tick season lasts longer in many regions. With more time for exposure, their life cycle also lengthens, increasing increasing the risk of infection in the population.

Are there any misconceptions about ticks that need to be debunked?

Yes! Many people believe that ticks fall from trees, jump, or even fly, but that’s not true. They actually stay on low vegetation, where they benefit from the moisture of the soil, until an animal or a human brushes by, so they can latch onto them and later bite them.

Finally, what should we be monitoring from an epidemiological perspective in Quebec?

One of my current projects focuses on monitoring anaplasmosis in Quebec. It’s a bacterial infection transmitted mainly by the blacklegged tick. For now, human cases have been reported mostly in the Eastern Townships—the region that also has the highest number of Lyme disease cases. We have therefore developed master’s-level research projects to identify which natural reservoirs explain the regional emergence of this bacterial infection.

Psst…
Catherine Bouchard is a veterinary epidemiologist (scientific researcher) at the Public Health Agency of Canada. She manages the Ticks and Tick-borne diseases unit within the Public Health Risk Sciences division and she is a professor adjunct at Université de Montréal.

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Of course, my hair has taken on a lighter shade, and some of my younger employees have started addressing me with a formal “vous.” A few clients have even dared to ask if I’m thinking about retirement. I do think about it, I’m planning for it, but I’m still having fun, so I keep going.

The early days

I was born on a dairy farm. We had beautiful, gentle little Canadienne cows that I loved accompanying out to pasture when I was a child. I loved them so much that I would wake up earlier than my father to go meet them in the field just before milking time. I loved my childhood years. There was always a dog to follow us to the field or during playtime, we were surrounded by a dozen cats, we had a horse, rabbits, goats, geese… I learned about life, illness, and death as well. We grew attached, then had to let go, often with tears. We never forget, but we keep moving forward and keep on loving.

A natural continuation

I chose to become a veterinarian because it felt like the most natural continuation of my childhood.

I received my veterinary license in June 1987 and became the owner of my current clinic in July 1995. The clinic has moved, we’ve expanded, and I went from having two employees to twenty. From one client to several thousand. I’ve performed many surgeries thinking someone else might have done it better. I’ve treated animals without being able to precisely identify what was wrong. Twenty-five years ago, specialists were few and far between, and practices were smaller, so we often felt alone. Thankfully, the veterinary world has evolved and now allows us to care for animals and support their owners in a much more appropriate way. It’s hard to believe we once practiced without all the communication tools we now take for granted. How could I ever walk away from this amazing profession, especially now that we have so many ways to keep improving?

Love for the profession

I love practicing veterinary medicine more and more because I now work alongside other veterinarians who are skilled than I am in some areas or with certain procedures. And sometimes I’m the one who’s more experienced in other situations. It’s a beautiful example of teamwork. We also now have quick access to excellent specialists who support us when cases get more complicated. I’m never alone anymore. Earlier in my career, I often felt isolated when facing difficult cases. That’s no longer the case, and it’s one of the reasons I appreciate my work so much.

I’ve always loved animals. Over 35 years of veterinary work, I’ve had to say goodbye to countless furry or not-so-furry friends. Some losses have stayed with me more than others. But I’ve learned to accept defeat in moments where I knew I couldn’t have done more. It wasn’t my failure, but that of the body I was trying to heal. I was able to carry on by focusing on the victories and on the support I can bring to my clients. My presence and my guidance remain valuable and meaningful to them, even after their pet has passed.

Over the years, the affection I feel for my clients has become almost as great as the love I feel for their animals. I love people who love animals. After more than three decades, many clients now come to me with their third or fourth pet. We often reminisce fondly about the very first animal that started our relationship. Life went on, and it continues still. This long-standing bond of trust nourishes me every day.

What helped me keep going?

Every victory over illness, every thank you from a client, every smile from an employee happy to see a patient recover gives me that wonderful feeling of having fulfilled my purpose. It’s not easy every day, but overall, the balance is excellent.

In recent years, we’ve heard a lot about veterinarians leaving traditional practice, that branch that cares for your small companions. For some, this is more a career shift than a departure. There are many needs in other fields, and so many opportunities, that it’s only natural for some to seek a better fit, whether it’s for their schedule, location, and quality of life. A new challenge can be stimulating and help reveal other aspects of our personalities and skills. However, in other cases, it’s truly heartbreaking to see colleagues leaving the profession with discouragement or sadness. It is such a beautiful profession. Let’s hope that the organizations involved in reflecting on this troubling trend will find real solutions. In the meantime, please be patient and understanding with your family veterinarian. Your smile and your kind words always make a difference in our day.

The post Testimonial: “I’ve been a veterinarian for 35 years, and I still love my profession just as much.” appeared first on Flair & cie.

Caring for farm animals

The idea of becoming a rural bovine veterinarian came to me relatively late in my studies. In fact, I had to try out different areas of veterinary medicine before figuring out what I liked and what I didn’t. That’s the beauty of veterinary medicine: there are so many paths to explore. There’s truly a “hoof for every claw,” so to speak.

I knew I wanted to work in a rural setting, to be on the road and independent while still being part of a team. I also wanted to work with large animals that would challenge me both mentally and physically. I hoped to build genuine relationships with clients who value the work I do. So, I did internships in bovine practice, what we affectionately call being a “cow vet,” and I discovered the amazing world of agriculture. I fell in love with it, and it became my career.

To be a good vet in the dairy world, you need to be a people person and enjoy collaborating with farmers and others in the field. You must be humble enough to know you don’t have all the answers, and not be afraid of getting dirty (especially when you’re 5 foot 3 like me!). And while you don’t need to be an Olympic athlete, you do have to enjoy being active.

Rural veterinarian: a dream job

I quickly fell in love with my work. With my trusty toolbox in hand and wearing my farm-scented overalls, I hop into my car each morning like I’m heading off on a new adventure. I love that my days are planned yet still full of surprises, big and small. This pushes me to be adaptable and develop good stress and time management skills. In summer, I love driving with the windows down, listening to country music, and picking up a basket of fresh raspberries along the way. In winter, I love knowing I can always call one of my loyal clients if I ever end up in a ditch! Joking aside, farmers are incredibly generous people, always ready to lend a hand. Many have become friends. They know how devoted and passionate I am about my job, and they also know my feisty Jersey bull attitude.

And being a bit of a foodie, I’ll admit that having access to fresh meat, cheese, and maple products straight from the source is a definite perk.

In short, I’m incredibly lucky to have found a profession I’m passionate about. I get to be part of a tight-knit and dynamic team. We always have lots of projects, team activities, and continuing education. Like any workplace, it’s important to feel supported and know you can count on your colleagues when needed. Even when I’m out on the road, all it takes is a quick phone call to chat with a teammate or ask for help. I really am so fortunate. I truly hope that all of you get to do what you love and feel just as fulfilled.

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