Critter Fixers: Country Vets, Vernard Hodges, DVM, and Terrence Ferguson, DVM, want to continue their efforts to make veterinary care more accessible in rural Georgia, while also learning to adopt new technologies and techniques and recognizing the importance of diversity in the field of veterinary medicine.
Veterinary Practice News met with the Critter Fixers, who have been nominated for a National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP) Image Award for their show, at the WVC Conference in Las Vegas, NV.
The duo—who run a veterinary clinic in Bonaire, GA—hope the nomination in the “Outstanding Reality Program, Reality Competition or Game Show (Series)” category will broaden their audience.
“Just to receive the nomination, from your peers, lets you know that you are being influential in the right way,” says Dr. Ferguson. Dr. Hodges remarks being nominated alongside the popular reality program, Celebrity Family Feud, led his mother to believe they “made it” as an influential show. “Any time my momma gets excited, I’m excited,” Hodges adds.
Critter Fixers: Country Vets offers a window into the challenges of rural veterinary care. Ferguson jokes when he began practicing, veterinarians used “X-ray machines from World War II,” but technological progress has changed the scenario. “Now we have surgical lasers, different O2 sensors, [and equipment for] ultrasound and endoscopy.” Hodges agrees, saying when he began 25 years ago, surgery was necessary for even the smallest of issues, such as when a dog ingests something harmful. “But now we can use an endoscopy machine [if a dog has eaten something] and I’ve removed all kinds of things, from underwear to eyeglasses. There’s no surgery, wound, or sutures that the pet needs to recover from.”
It is not just technology that is evolving, but the field of veterinary science, too, the reality show duo says. “At conferences like this one, you always learn something new. Veterinary medicine as a field is constantly moving and evolving,” says Hodges. “We’re old dogs, but we’re learning new tricks,” he adds.
This sentiment resonates with Anthony Pease, DVM, MS, DACVR, chief medical officer of Viticus Group, organizers of WVC, who highlights the evolving nature of veterinary medicine and why conferences can help educate the community on new approaches to medicine.
“When you think about conferences and veterinary medicine in general, there has been a standard way of having classes, and even just communicating veterinary medicine so far. What we’re trying to do is say, “This [new approach to veterinary medicine] is the beginning of a trend.” And while we can’t “vet differently” all at once, you don’t have to practice veterinary medicine like your neighbor.”
Hodges says, while veterinary science is a respected profession, there are not many African Americans in the field. Ferguson adds, “Less than two percent of veterinarians are Black and the field is not very diverse. I hope members of the community who see us will feel that this is an option, and that veterinary science is something they can do. Hopefully, we’ll inspire even more people now by being nominated for the NAACP award.”
The Critter Fixers stars also mention their excitement about their enduring partnership with The Street Dog Coalition, an organization providing free veterinary for people experiencing or are at risk of homelessness.
“Pet ownership is amazing, but a number of communities are not able to afford veterinary care. That is why we have [partnered with] The Street Dog Coalition, under which we provide free veterinary care to homeless populations. They care very much about their pets, but cannot afford to get them the necessary care,” says Hodges. While initiatives like these exist elsewhere, it is a first in Georgia. “We call it taking care of both ends of the leash, because even the homeless population are offered services like blood check-ups,” he adds. “Everybody loves animals and that’s why we’re here. That’s where our heart is and that’s the most important thing.”