HUMAN ANIMAL BOND ASSOCIATION STUDENT SCHOLARSHIP

A huge thank you to Dr. Kimberly Pope-Robinson for sharing this scholarship opportunity with us!  This is an amazing way to express your passion for the Human-Animal Bond and maybe earn some scholarship funds!  Please see below for additional information. 

Click to read more ...

The Human-Animal Bond Grant

Are you passionate about the human-animal bond? Have you been trying to come up with ways to emphasize the importance of it at your school? Read below to learn more about a funding opporunity for just that! Deadline approaching!

"The purpose of this AWESC Human-Animal Grant is to reimburse SAVMA members to initiate or sustain human-animal bond projects, defray expenses for special lectures on topics involving human-animal bond, and enhance the education of veterinary students in tangible ways related to the human-animal bond. The grant does NOT cover travel expenses for any mentioned about. The grant will provide 5 students with a total of $500 each. The application will be due October 31st, 2020 at 11:59pm. The winning participants will be notified November 20th, 2020.

Apply for this grant here.

Contact savma.awesc@gmail.com with any questions or concerns!"

On The Human Animal Bond

This op-ed piece was submitted by Kristy Herman from Michigan State University!

Within the last few years there has been a push to emphasize wellness in the veterinary profession, and for good reason. Current data suggests that veterinarians are over 3% more likely to consider suicide compared to the general population. Why is it that our profession, such a noble and respected calling, has such an emotionally overburdening connotation? Yes, dealing with debt, life and death decisions on a daily basis, and navigating our way through oftentimes difficult client interactions can weigh heavily on one’s emotional wellbeing. Is there hope for our profession?

Personally, my path to veterinary medicine has been serpentine, akin to climbing a spiral staircase with some obstacles to overcome with my ascension. Some of my earliest memories circle around fear and uncertainty. I was a shy, serious child who took education seriously, and while I was loved by family, I still felt that there was something missing. When I was paired up with my first cat, I felt like that “something” was finally found; I had a friend who could comfort me when I was upset and listen without judging. During middle school my physical and mental health started slipping downhill and my cat was always there, helping to take some of the pain away. My family and friends helped support me during that time but, as humans, we all have our own share of personal struggles and it can be difficult to fully reach out to others without giving too much of yourself away. I recognize that the human animal bond can have a profound influence on the health of both the human and the animal- I truly believe that my health would have deteriorated more quickly and significantly if I couldn’t spend quality time with my cat.

During high school I still struggled with physical and emotional wellbeing due to academic and extracurricular demands. Veterinarians are self-selecting with a tendency to lean towards perfectionism and overachieving. Getting good grades wasn’t good enough- I remember thinking less than 100% was not acceptable and there was no celebration in straight A’s- that was expected. Missing the mark was devastating. Thankfully, I have now learned to celebrate the passing of exams with lower expectations and more self-congratulating. I think that’s a large part of the reason why I have seen such a shift towards feeling better inside and out. There is a physical lightness in peace with oneself that is vastly more pleasant than the “heaviness” of disappointment. This lightness allows me to be more receptive of the love from others and open to forming relationships which makes client interaction more enjoyable and appreciable.

While I am still an introvert at heart, I have learned to be more charismatic thanks to working with animals at a local veterinary clinic. 13 years have passed since I started as a volunteer and the passion for promoting animal health has only strengthened. Long hours at the clinic, toxic coworkers, and tragic patient outcomes can be physically and emotionally taxing but the core passion has never faltered. Finding acceptance that doing the best I can and understanding that I cannot change anyone other than myself aid me in my quest to be the best advocate for patient health. I want to be able to put my best foot forward for the sake of the patient, the client, and myself. While I still have two years to go before I am a fully licensed veterinarian, I aim to promote wellness for myself and my peers in order for us to all respect the power of the human-animal bond.

Noche, the best cuddle cat since 1998

Time Flies When Miracles Happen!

Jodie Joseph, Cornell

Entry, Experiences

During my gap year, I worked as a veterinary technician at Holistic Pet Care in Little Falls, New Jersey. What was most remarkable about this place was the dedicated bond between clients and their patient and the heartwarming ability to defy all odds.

My story begins with Darlene and Diamo. Darlene is a 35-years-old human, diagnosed with metastatic breast cancer a few years prior to presenting to our clinic with Diamo, an 11-year-old castrated Siamese cat. Darlene had 40 tumors in her body, ranging as far cranially as her brain and caudally as her extremities. Nearly 70% of her body was removed, through surgeries, chemotherapy, and radiation.

Darlene knew exactly where all 40 tumors were because Diamo had pointed them out, nudging each area where the cancer had been. However, there was one spot Diamo did not identify, her pancreas. As many know in human medicine, pancreatic cancer is practically a death sentence, and in animal cancer the prognosis is poor.

Diamo presented to Holistic Pet Care with pancreatic cancer. His previous vet gave him a prognosis of 8-10 DAYS to live. 

We treated Diamo with goat milk, in hopes to stimulate his appetite and make him comfortable. We also treated him with homeopathic remedies in hopes to palliate him. He came for regular rechecks over the ensuing WEEKS, his weight fluctuating slightly, but his condition stabilized. 

Approximately 4 MONTHS after his initial consult, we received the most remarkable news- diagnostic imaging suggested there was NO EVIDENCE OF TUMORS in Diamo. As for Darlene, she had also received a clean bill of health from her oncologist that week! 

         It has been over a  since I met Darlene and Diamo. They continue to inspire me along the path of small animal integrative oncology. I vow to not only fight for my patients, but also fight for my clients. 

Hunter's Story

Honorable Mention, Experiences
Stephanie Halley, Michigan State University

It started with an “alternate” letter to Michigan State University College of Veterinary Medicine.  I was so close, yet so far from vet school I could taste it.  To beef up my application, I wanted more clinical experience and spent a year working at Clare Animal Hospital.  Before work on a snowy in December of 2010 my dog, a 13 year old golden retriever named Hunter, became weak, tired, and had tacky gums.  I took him to work where my boss, Dr. Paul McNeilly, palpated his abdomen and said it didn’t look too promising.  We shaved him for an ultrasound to get a better look at what was going on.  The diagnosis: splenic hemangiosarcoma.  The prognosis was grave and Dr. McNeilly didn’t anticipate him lasting too much longer.  The reason he was so pale and weak was because he was bleeding internally.

I had fully accepted his fate, vowed to make Hunter comfortable in my home, and was overwhelmed with haunting thoughts that if I had gotten into vet school I may have been able to help him sooner.  Days later I received a letter from Michigan State.  On my second application I was accepted but the feeling was bittersweet with my dog still sick.  Five months later, in May of 2011, Hunter was still alive and in good spirits.  The doctors at the practice couldn’t believe it and thought he might be strong enough for surgery if the mass hadn’t metastasized.  After taking radiographs, checking his blood, and getting a second look with the ultrasound Dr. McNeilly made me an offer that I couldn’t refuse and set the stage for my veterinary career.

Click to read more ...