Veterinarians, veterinary technicians, practice managers, rescuers, behaviorists, nutritionists, trainers, volunteers and other animal professionals are the backbone of pet care – helping pets and their families live in harmony and health.
Catster wants to showcase the underappreciated champions of the animal kingdom – the heroes of the pet world.
We interview some of the most inspiring animal clinics, veterinary hospitals, animal shelters and rehabilitation organizations from around the world and share all of the amazing, and often tough, experiences they face as they work to help, heal, guide, revitalize and protect our furry family members.
These are the stories of unsung animal superheroes!
This week’s interview is with New Era Veterinary Hospital
Meet Dr Maja Platisa DVM MRCVS at work. New Era Veterinary Hospital She works as a night/out of hours vet in Jersey, Channel Islands and of course you might also see her on Catster!
Mission
In your own words, what is the mission and purpose of New Era Veterinary Hospital?
In my view, the mission of New Era Veterinary Hospital, like most veterinary clinics, is to help as many animals as possible – be they kept as pets, farm and working animals or wildlife – and through the hard work of our team of skilled and dedicated professionals, always ensuring the best possible health and quality of life for animals, providing the best possible veterinary care and being recognised by the local community for this unique role.
What is your personal mission or goal as a veterinary professional and as an individual?
My goals as a veterinarian are to always provide the best possible care to my patients and meet pet owner expectations with a friendly, professional and caring attitude, to keep abreast of the latest developments and trends in veterinary medicine and to constantly continue to improve my skills and knowledge. On a personal level, one of my biggest challenges and goals so far has been to maintain a work-life balance, keeping work at “work” but still having time for family, friends and hobbies outside of work.
Daily Experiences
What is it like working as a veterinarian at Channel Islands and New Era Veterinary Hospital?
For me, working as a veterinarian in the UK, and especially in the Channel Islands, still feels like a great privilege, having worked here since graduating in 2015. It is very different to working as a veterinarian in Croatia, where I come from, due to the different levels of veterinary medicine, the financial constraints of keeping a pet and the lack of veterinary pet insurance. Working at New Era Veterinary Hospital, I am proud to be part of a fantastic team of knowledgeable, ambitious and skilled people who are always willing to go to any lengths to find new and innovative ways to help animals.
How big is your team?
It’s a big team, a well-functioning organization, with each team member playing a vital and irreplaceable role: we have over 20 veterinarians, some of whom work part-time, spread across two branches and the main hospital which operates 24/7; we also have over 15 veterinary nurses, the equivalent of vet techs in the US, several veterinary nursing students and support staff, nine receptionists across three locations, about a dozen administrative staff and accountants, a veterinary physiotherapist, and more.
Are there any staffing shortages and how are you dealing with them?
As an island veterinary clinic, we are constantly short-staffed and it is difficult to recruit full-time staff, in part because of accommodation restrictions and specific work and housing permit requirements that make it expensive for newcomers. Burnout and poor mental health are also reasons people leave the profession early, leading to a continued staff shortage.
On average, how many animals do you help per week?
We see around 100 animals every day, including dogs, cats, pet rabbits and guinea pigs. A visiting vet looks after the farm animals and horses every day. Consultations take place from morning until evening, with two vets seeing at the same time, alongside scheduled surgeries every day, and a full-time vet who only looks after emergencies. I guess that we see around 100-130 small animals across all branches in a day, but I could be wrong.
Challenges and rewards
What is the most difficult part of your job? How do you deal with euthanasia and the death of a patient?
The hardest part of my job is failing in any sense. This doesn’t necessarily mean losing an animal’s life, which is the worst outcome for everyone involved. It could be a mistake we or another team member made. It could be the frustration of not getting a diagnosis, a poor response to treatment, or having to break bad news to a client. A challenge that many veterinarians experience at some point in their career, typically in the first few years, is the infamous imposter syndrome. Dealing with the anxiety and uncertainty around a difficult case can leave you exhausted and feeling unfulfilled.
Euthanasia is always difficult, but it is especially difficult knowing the animal, being with them in sickness and health, getting to know the owner, losing young animals in different circumstances, and just seeing the love the owner has during this difficult time at the end of life. As veterinarians, we must learn how to protect ourselves mentally and emotionally during the euthanasia procedure and somehow distance ourselves. If we don’t, we may experience emotional burnout and depression. This is not always possible and often we end up feeling as devastated and saddened as the owner.
What is the biggest challenge facing your organization?
The veterinary industry faces some major challenges including poor mental health, staff shortages, high turnover, variable and inadequate remuneration and generally difficult work-life balance. For both veterinarians and nurses, the job requires a lot of dedication and ongoing personal and professional growth from the very beginning of their veterinary studies and this does not change after graduation.
As already mentioned, one of the biggest challenges at New Era Veterinary Hospital is staffing shortages. Secondly, there are stress levels and mental health as a veterinary practice is a high-stress environment with continuously increasing expectations. This often results in noticeable stress levels both for individuals and the team as a whole.
What is the most rewarding part of your job?
The best moments are, of course, when the surgery or treatment is successful, we send the animal home to its owner, and see it recover and get back to normal. The look of relief, happiness and gratitude on the owner’s face, the wagging tail and the satisfied purr make it all worthwhile. But sometimes there are small victories every day, like getting a seriously ill patient to eat something, getting a patient with a spinal cord injury to take their first steps and move their legs on their own, or seeing an animal we treated a few weeks ago with a significant improvement or even resolution in its health when it comes for a re-examination. As professionals, we also find great satisfaction and a sense of accomplishment in giving a definitive diagnosis to our patients.
Impact
What achievement or particular animal has had a major impact on you as an individual or as a team?
It’s hard to pick just one example, as there are so many animals that impact the whole team every week. Usually these are patients who stay in the hospital for more than a few days or who come in frequently for ongoing treatments such as chemotherapy, and the team quickly builds a bond with each and every one of them. One dog that impacted many team members last year was Alfie, an old border collie who had a complex kidney and endocrine disease. Alfie stayed with us in hospital for many days, was a very sweet pup and would regularly visit the clinic after his admission for checkups and treats from the receptionist. It was difficult for all team members when Alfie’s condition deteriorated and he passed away.
future
What are your main goals for the future of New Era Veterinary Hospital?
At New Era Veterinary Hospital our aim is to provide the best possible care for all our patients through the hard work of our highly skilled and experienced team, whilst prioritizing the mental wellbeing of all our staff and maintaining a positive and stimulating working environment.
How can ordinary people contribute to making your life easier?
Educating pet owners through vet-approved media and trusted content, raising awareness about the best care for their pets to avoid some of the easily preventable health issues, understanding the importance of regular preventative healthcare, empathizing with the difficult position that local veterinarians often find themselves in, trying to balance the expectations and financial peculiarities of each client with the best and necessary care that their pets deserve, are just some of the ways in which we, the public and pet owners, can make our daily jobs easier.
Sometimes, just a few words of kindness, understanding and gratitude are enough to make the veterinary team feel appreciated for all the hard work and long hours they put into caring for the animals.
story
What’s the funniest or most outlandish pet name you’ve ever come across?
Among these are cats named Coco and Chanel, a dog named Dolly Parton, and a cat named Jesus.
Where can people who want to visit, get involved, support or volunteer with your organization find more information and get in touch?
It is best to contact either the practice manager or clinical director via email or the contact form on the website.
Is there anything else you’d like to share with the pet community?
Thank you for the opportunity to share some aspects of our work with you. Our work is a calling for most of us, and our lives would not be the same without it. Together with you, the pet owner, through honest conversations, we can lay the foundation for improving the health and welfare of animals around the world.
