b'by G. Robert Weedon, DVM, MPHWhy Play Golf WhenYou Can Spay Cats?After a long and varied veterinary career, including stints in pri- ment age; I got burned with that.) If you dont need the income,vate practice, at a global nonprofit, and at the University of volunteer.Illinois College of Veterinary Medicine, where I directed the The work is meaningful in so many ways. The people whoshelter medicine program and trained students in high-quality, come to TLC PetSnip are good, caring people who just donthigh-volume spay/neuter techniques (HQHVCN), I decided it have the resources to go to a full-service veterinary clinic. Thiswas time to retire. I figured Id go somewhere warm, far from was something I first realized when I was at the University ofthe Illinois winters, and play golf year-round. Thats not how it IllinoisandweworkedwiththePetsforLifeprograminturned out. Chicago. ThepeoplewhoaccesstheseprogramsoftenhaveAfter moving to Florida, I discovered that I really missed smaller social networks, smaller family networks and smallersupport networks. Their pet is a source of unconditional affec-tion in their life, and they should be supported.Another benefit of being a retired veterinarian working inspay/neuter has been the relationships Ive developed. I knowTLC PetSnip is happy to have me (theyve told me so), which isgratifying in and of itself, and spending time with like-mindedindividuals and talking with other veterinarians keeps my clini-cal thinking pathways open and active. I care about the peopleI work with and look forward to the time I spend with them.Achieving ParPerhaps you havent done much spay/neuter in a long time.Simple solution: Find a clinic and see if someone there willmentoryou.TherearegreatresourcesavailabletolearnHQHVSN techniques, but nothing beats hands-on experience.Dr. Weedon and the TLC PetSnip staff. With a mentor, you will become a more efficient spay/neutersurgeon in no time.doing spay/neuter. I got a Florida veterinary license and contact- At TLC PetSnip, I find it immensely gratifying to mentored TLC PetSnip, a nonprofit clinic in Lakeland, about part- younger veterinarians in HQHVSN techniques and to worktime and volunteer opportunities. I now spay and neuter dogs with seasoned veterinarians who dont have much spay/neuterand cats a couple of days a week, and since my real passion is experience and who, like me, may be retired (or retiring soon)community cat management, I volunteer for those clinics as and still want to remain active in the profession and contributeoften as possible. to their community. Its extremely rewarding to help a promis-Ive been in Florida almost three years now and have yet to ing surgeon gain competence and confidence under my tute-play a round of golf. lage.A Gratifying Course I enjoy doing spay/neuter workhonestly, more so thanWeve all heard about the growing shortage of veterinarians playing golf. It gives me a sense of contributing to the commu-and its effect on access to veterinary care and low-cost animal nity. It helps the animals and caretakers who cant afford stan-sterilization. If youre a retired, semi-retired or soon-to-be retired dard private practice rates.veterinarian(orveterinarytechnician),youcanhaveabig If youre a retired, semi-retired or soon-to-be retired veteri-impact on increasing available spay/neuter resources in a com- narian or veterinary technician, consider the opportunities tomunity, even if you sterilize animals just a few days a week or put your professional skills to good (and much needed) use. Imonth. Many nonprofits need help, but not necessarily full- promise that youll feel genuinely fulfilled at the end of the day.time help. Its certainly more gratifying than hitting a little white ball intoVeterinarianscanearn$500to$800adaydoing the rough or the bunker. UHQHVSN. (Just be careful with respect to Social Security as This article first appeared in HumanePro, a blog from The Humanethere are limits to what you can make until you reach full retire- Society of the United States. May, 2022.60THE NEW BARKER www.TheNewBarker.com'