Thinking back, my identification with animals, and my subsequent concern for them, is in my earliest memories. Even as a young child, they represented friends or kindred spirits if you will. This understanding seemed innate without any external influence. However, as I grew older, my father brought these sentiments into my reality.
He was a strong man with many good and remarkable qualities, including an unfailing empathy for the animals of this world. He was constantly seeking out and feeding stray cats. Quite often, this was in the bitter cold of winter when he worried about them most. Needless to say, our collection of family cats and dogs grew steadily. And of course, they were doted on and lived like lords. We as a family wouldn’t have had it any other way!
My great-grandmother, Margherita Misiano, a Sicilian immigrant, and her youngest brother, Giovanni, also had a great love of animals. She had five dogs and would always feed a rat that lived behind her garage! And her brother lived on a small tract of land on which he cared for a virtual menagerie, including sheep, goats, chickens, dogs, cats, and the like.
So, from my great grandmother and her brother, my father inherited his great concern for animals, and I, in turn, seemingly have inherited this quality from him. It’s what they mean when they say something is “in the blood.”
As a young man, I satisfied my desire to work with animals by volunteering at an animal shelter for a year, building dog houses, walking dogs, and playing with the cats. It was there that I adopted my long-time and beloved cat Jaime, and he lived happily with me for many years to come. This combined experience finally solidified my passion, and I decided to dedicate my life to animal well-being by becoming a veterinarian.
During my undergraduate studies, I single-handedly produced a weekly television show airing videos from various animal protection organizations, including those covering the sad plight of millions of animals in shelters across the US. The show ran for a few months and was estimated by the station to be seen by about two thousand people per week in the local area.
Later during this period, I attended both Marches for the Animals in Washington DC along with thousands of others, calling for peace and justice for the animals world-wide.
In veterinary college, we were expected to fully dissect a horse cadaver from a horse killed specifically for that purpose. Luckily, a classmate of mine knew of someone who’s pony had just passed away from natural causes in a field. The timing was perfect. We used that cadaver instead, and the professor went on to say that we had done the best neuro-dissection in the lab that semester.
Later still, we were required to sedate a horse and place a jugular catheter for practice. The horse was supposed to be sent to slaughter afterward. So, the same classmate and I each chipped in $500 for him and named him Gulliver (see right). We sedated him as required and then drove him to a farm in Michigan where he had acres to run and be with other horses. When we released him onto the rolling hills at his new home, he ran and ran and ran with enthusiasm for what must have been fifteen minutes non-stop. I’ll never forget it. It was our way of giving back to him.
He was a strong man with many good and remarkable qualities, including an unfailing empathy for the animals of this world. He was constantly seeking out and feeding stray cats. Quite often, this was in the bitter cold of winter when he worried about them most. Needless to say, our collection of family cats and dogs grew steadily. And of course, they were doted on and lived like lords. We as a family wouldn’t have had it any other way!
My great-grandmother, Margherita Misiano, a Sicilian immigrant, and her youngest brother, Giovanni, also had a great love of animals. She had five dogs and would always feed a rat that lived behind her garage! And her brother lived on a small tract of land on which he cared for a virtual menagerie, including sheep, goats, chickens, dogs, cats, and the like.
So, from my great grandmother and her brother, my father inherited his great concern for animals, and I, in turn, seemingly have inherited this quality from him. It’s what they mean when they say something is “in the blood.”
As a young man, I satisfied my desire to work with animals by volunteering at an animal shelter for a year, building dog houses, walking dogs, and playing with the cats. It was there that I adopted my long-time and beloved cat Jaime, and he lived happily with me for many years to come. This combined experience finally solidified my passion, and I decided to dedicate my life to animal well-being by becoming a veterinarian.
During my undergraduate studies, I single-handedly produced a weekly television show airing videos from various animal protection organizations, including those covering the sad plight of millions of animals in shelters across the US. The show ran for a few months and was estimated by the station to be seen by about two thousand people per week in the local area.
Later during this period, I attended both Marches for the Animals in Washington DC along with thousands of others, calling for peace and justice for the animals world-wide.
In veterinary college, we were expected to fully dissect a horse cadaver from a horse killed specifically for that purpose. Luckily, a classmate of mine knew of someone who’s pony had just passed away from natural causes in a field. The timing was perfect. We used that cadaver instead, and the professor went on to say that we had done the best neuro-dissection in the lab that semester.
Later still, we were required to sedate a horse and place a jugular catheter for practice. The horse was supposed to be sent to slaughter afterward. So, the same classmate and I each chipped in $500 for him and named him Gulliver (see right). We sedated him as required and then drove him to a farm in Michigan where he had acres to run and be with other horses. When we released him onto the rolling hills at his new home, he ran and ran and ran with enthusiasm for what must have been fifteen minutes non-stop. I’ll never forget it. It was our way of giving back to him.
Finally, we had to spay a pig as part of our surgical training. We named her Emma (see
left) and performed the surgery as required. She also was to be sent to slaughter post
procedure. Instead, we took her to a pig sanctuary in Michigan in the back of my truck
along with several Pot-Bellied pigs who also needed a good home. Long afterward, I
found out that she had grown to be enormous and was living a great life at the sanctuary
with many others of her kind!
As a veterinarian, I donated my professional services to a local canine sanctuary
dedicated to geriatric dogs. And believe me, there’s nothing better than helping an old,
arthritic dog feel better. It’s the best.
Personally, I have had several animals in the last years, including my dog Mel and my cats Martha, Jaime, Freddie, and Figaro. And again, all of them were rescues and have been treated like royalty. In fact, Mel was found in shock by the side of a highway with traumatic injuries. We never found out if he was hit by a car or perhaps thrown from a truck. But I treated him acutely and nursed him back to health over several months. He went on to be my buddy for many years, sleeping in bed with me night after night. And he was eighty pounds! (see Home Page with me)
Now after many years of practicing veterinary medicine and surgery, I continue to always put the animal’s needs first. Period. No question. And to this day, I’ve never wavered in this. Furthermore, I routinely reach out to specialists and others whenever the case warrants it, as I see it as my responsibility to the patient. Regarding clients, I pride myself in explaining to them in great detail my thoughts and perspectives to honor their love and concern for their pet, as it is my responsibility to them.
After all, it’s not really about me. It’s about being of service to the animals and the people who love them. It’s always been this way for me. And it always will be, come what may.
left) and performed the surgery as required. She also was to be sent to slaughter post
procedure. Instead, we took her to a pig sanctuary in Michigan in the back of my truck
along with several Pot-Bellied pigs who also needed a good home. Long afterward, I
found out that she had grown to be enormous and was living a great life at the sanctuary
with many others of her kind!
As a veterinarian, I donated my professional services to a local canine sanctuary
dedicated to geriatric dogs. And believe me, there’s nothing better than helping an old,
arthritic dog feel better. It’s the best.
Personally, I have had several animals in the last years, including my dog Mel and my cats Martha, Jaime, Freddie, and Figaro. And again, all of them were rescues and have been treated like royalty. In fact, Mel was found in shock by the side of a highway with traumatic injuries. We never found out if he was hit by a car or perhaps thrown from a truck. But I treated him acutely and nursed him back to health over several months. He went on to be my buddy for many years, sleeping in bed with me night after night. And he was eighty pounds! (see Home Page with me)
Now after many years of practicing veterinary medicine and surgery, I continue to always put the animal’s needs first. Period. No question. And to this day, I’ve never wavered in this. Furthermore, I routinely reach out to specialists and others whenever the case warrants it, as I see it as my responsibility to the patient. Regarding clients, I pride myself in explaining to them in great detail my thoughts and perspectives to honor their love and concern for their pet, as it is my responsibility to them.
After all, it’s not really about me. It’s about being of service to the animals and the people who love them. It’s always been this way for me. And it always will be, come what may.
© 2020-2023 Eugene Aversa, DVM