Making the Change from Private Veterinary Practice to Shelter Medicine

dalrymple
Dr. Aimee Dalrymple

In a recent feature by Best Friends Network Partners, faculty member Dr. Amiee Dalrymple, DVM, MS, gave an account of what guided her switch from conventional veterinary practice to shelter and rescue medicine. The field is emerging, but still many veterinary colleges do not key students into the possibilities in animal welfare organizations.

“There was no discussion of shelter medicine at my school,” says Aimee, who works as a contract and relief vet for several shelters in the Boston area. “Dogs came in from the local shelter for spay/neuter and although they went back to the facility, most of them were euthanized for space. So, I thought the only things shelter vets did were euthanasia and spay/neuter surgeries.”

There is a common thought that shelters and rescues only use volunteer and contract veterinary services. Dr. Dalrymple was surprised when she found a sticky note for a paid position.

“It was from a rescue looking to actually hire a veterinarian, and that’s the entire reason I picked it up,” says Aimee. “I ended up working with several progressive rescue organizations, and they were the ones who introduced me to practices like pediatric spays and ear-tipping feral cats.”

Read more in the article: Making the jump from private practice to shelter medicine by Liz Finch