Work life balance and being a vet.
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Some of the situations vets find themselves in can only be explained as unbelievable, from happy times with puppies being born, to the worst of times with aggressive and abusive clients to helping animals that have been exposed to the most heinous of crimes. Dr Tamara has seen a lot in her 11 years as a Veterinarian, but she loves her job and is a crowd favorite here at YVV.
Being a vet
A lot has changed for me in the last year but coming to work still provides me with some sanity and knowing that I am helping all your animals is still a great motivator. Having a child has meant that I have cut my hours back and finding that work life balance is a lot more challenging but getting to see you all and your pets makes it all worthwhile.
I have worked as a vet since 2009. During my studies in Sydney I also did some after hours work.
Vets deal with people from all walks of life and must handle some hairy situations. I have a couple to share.
As a student vet in Sydney I had a knife pulled on me in consult as I started to discuss the costs involved with trying to save a puppy. The clients were clearly distressed about their puppy and acting inappropriately. It is very difficult as a vet to balance the need to fix and help every animal with the needs of the business. Verbal abuse is something I have had to deal with quite often unfortunately, but a physical threat was incredibly confronting.
The situation was diffused but it is certainly something I will never forget.
As a freshly minted vet up in Queensland, one of my first weekends on call dealt me a case that I was not prepared for in the slightest. There was the sweetest little dog that came in and I was advised that she had been sexually abused.
I was required to report this to the police and the case became very involved.
The dog required surgery and was then rehomed. Unfortunately, she became aggressively overprotective of her new family and had to be euthanased.
This case will forever be in my mind and strengthens my drive to be the best advocate for my patients that I can be.
During my first year I also vividly remember the day that I was required to euthanase 10 animals. A litter of 4 puppies and 6 other individually owned animals. At the time I felt that my world was ending as well. It took a large toll on my mental health but also helped to teach me resilience.
Euthanasia is a necessary common procedure, but it is still difficult to perform. In most cases I am aware I am doing the right thing by the animal, but I would much prefer that I could fix the animal. I guess as vets and pet owners it is something we learn do deal with if not accept.
It is not all doom and gloom though. Most of the time I can help my clients to be more comfortable and live a better life. I especially love working out a diagnosis and treatment plan for medical cases, my problem-solving brain delights in it.
Reproduction is also a favourite of mine, making new pets is very rewarding.
I look forward to seeing you all in clinic to help your pets live their best life!
Sadly, we have had some staff changes recently at Yass Valley Veterinary. After 3 years, Dr Issy Card has taken a small animal position in Canberra. Our recently married Dr Anne Cusack is relocating to Wagga for her husband’s work, and Dr Natalie Flew is also leaving us to work in an emergency afterhours clinic in Canberra with more suitable hours for her new family. We will all miss these three amiable, dedicated and competent veterinarians and wish them well in their future pursuits. Dr Stuart Williams, after almost 33 years at Yass Valley Veterinary (15 years as a partner with Dr Peter Gibbs and 15 years as sole principal), is resigning from his full-time position at the end of February. He is looking forward to having a break away from afterhours on call and managing a large staff across two hospitals. Working as a volunteer veterinarian in Australia and overseas, travelling with his wife Cath and spending some much needed time at home and in the garden, is on the agenda for Stuart in the short term. Dr Tamara Butler, who has been with the business for 17 years, will be promoted to the Lead Vet role when Stuart resigns. Dr Nicole McKenzie will take on the Tamara’s Veterinary Manager role, while Ms Carrie Luckie will retain the Practice Manager role. We are incredibly grateful for the dedication and care that each of our departing veterinarians has given to our clients and patients, and their departures will mean a temporary change to our service availability. Be assured that we are actively and enthusiastically recruiting veterinarians to join our team. We’d like to introduce Dr Josh Tannen, a small animal veterinarian & surgeon, who will be with us until April. This experienced and easy-going locum will be very welcome by the team. However, in the short term, we will be operating with a smaller team, so there may be occasions where we are unable to provide the full range of services that are currently provided. What does this mean for you? • At times, we may need to rotate Saturday clinic closures. • There will be evenings or weekends when we do not have an after-hours veterinarian available. We will always do our best to keep you informed. Any changes to opening hours or services will be communicated via our social media pages and through notifications on the Yass Vet App. As always, if you require after-hours assistance when a veterinarian is not available, please call us on 6226 4444. Your call will be answered by a team of qualified nurses who will triage your situation and direct you to the closest appropriate emergency hospital if needed. We truly appreciate your understanding, patience, and ongoing support during this period of transition. Our commitment to providing compassionate, high-quality care for your animals remains at the heart of everything we do.
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