04/18/2026
Our veterinary community is vastly wide but at the same time it is so very small. When one of us hurts, we all hurt.
Today, we want to pause for a moment and extend our condolences to Happy Paws Veterinary clinic in Alberta. This past week they experienced a very difficult loss. A loss that is becoming too well known in our field.
We talk often about how rewarding veterinary medicine is. Everyone always says "you have the best job! You get to come to work and play with animals!" And the truth is we absolutely do! It's truly one of the most fulfilling careers to work in. Seeing your pets fills us with the desire to go on and do better, every day.
Veterinary medicine is built on compassion, dedication, and a deep commitment to the animals and families that we have the honour of helping. However, it is also work that carries heavy emotional weight. We are faced daily with difficult situations. We extend ourselves as much as we can, often at the cost of our own wages and mental health to do what we can to help 'just one more patient'.
Compassion fatigue is real and it is not talked about enough. Veterinary medicine has become the number one field of mental health struggles and over the last few years, we have lost far too many. Together we can end this by remembering to be kind to each other.
To Happy Paws, we are thinking of you during this difficult time.
To all the hard working veterinary professionals in Georgetown and surrounding areas, thank you for what you do. It is an honour to work along side of you all.
"Not all heros wear capes, but they do wear paw print scrubs".❤️
Thank you,
Georgetown Animal Clinic
