What It’s Like to Be a Shelter Veterinarian

Hailey Rein, BA, VetMedux

ArticleLast Updated October 20245 min read
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Veterinary medicine has many career opportunities, from general practitioners to specialists, each with unique challenges and benefits. In this series, veterinarians in different fields discuss the realities of their daily work and help bridge the gap between specialties.


Shelter veterinarians care for underserved animals, including those that are neglected and abused. Working in shelter medicine can be rewarding; however, there are also unique challenges and misconceptions. Natalie Weekes, VMD, and Lucy Fuller, DVM, provide a glimpse into the life of a shelter veterinarian.

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What brought you to shelter medicine? Do you have any special training?

“Shelter medicine wasn’t even on my radar,” said Dr. Weekes. “But the amount of surgery required and the ability to help some of the most vulnerable animals in my community convinced me to make the switch from private practice. Now I can’t see myself doing anything else.”

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