Editorial

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Why I Choose To Be A Veterinarian

We have included in this newsletter the following letter sent in by Srividhya Chandrasekaran, a young lady with a deep passion for animals and the field of veterinary medicine.

Why I Choose To Be A Veterinarian

I do not remember the day when I decided to become a veterinarian. I just knew it was the life for me. Many incidents and factors contributed to my decision. During my primary school days, I was the one who brought home the three-legged dog and the abandoned kitten from the drain. I also remember bringing home six house shrews once, to my mother's utter disgust. I promised her to let them loose in the forest behind my school the next day if they were allowed to stay the night.

Growing up, I cannot remember at any time my family not having a pet, be it a dog, a cat or the fish that I caught from the school drain. Even though these animals are enemies in the natural world; they lived quite harmoniously in my home. My father who is a vet himself used to relate many stories about his experiences in his university and working life to my family over dinner. He and my mother introduced me to James Herriot's collection of books whose real life experiences further inspired me.

When I reached the last term of high school, I had the difficult decision of choosing my future career. I was in the top science class in my school and obtained distinctions in biology, chemistry, physics and mathematics. I felt that my desire to heal and save lives would lead me into the path of medicine. But being an outdoor girl, I knew that I would not have been satisfied with just earning a lot of money. I wanted to get my hands dirty and visit strange and exotic places. Being a vet, I knew, could help me achieve this. To me, job and self-satisfaction are extremely important.

With this in my mind I enrolled myself in many veterinary related activities during my school days, such as voluntary work at the Ipoh Society of Prevention of Cruelty To Animals (ISPCA) and at a private clinic just to observe the vets at work. I was not allowed to do much there but my duties included washing the shelters and feeding the babies. I also enrolled myself in a Horse Riding Camp organised by the Perak Turf Club in my hometown. In this camp the participants were taught to ride horses and stable management in a fun-filled but knowledgeable manner.

Though there is a veterinary faculty in Malaysia, my primary aim is to obtain a comprehensive training in veterinary medicine and surgery, especially in equine industry; thanks to my experiences at the Perak Turf Club. After a thorough study and research of the local, regional and international vet schools using the Internet, I decided on Murdoch University due to the following reasons:

1. It is the most recent faculty and is well equipped with the latest available equipment and machinery,

2. It is very advanced in biotechnology,

3. Highly qualified and dedicated faculty members,

4. International accreditation in Australia, the Royal College, UK and the American Veterinary Medical Association.

Currently in Malaysia, there is inadequacy in skilled manpower at all levels and lack of career prospects in the veterinary practice. There is also a lack in quality veterinary and farriery services for the care of horses and ponies in the country. At present, there is a desperate need of at least 50 veterinarians in the equine industry alone. The Malaysian public is still not totally aware of the dangers faced by the animals in the world. For example, the orang utan a native of Malaysia is highly endangered for there is less than 2000 left in the world.

I know that I cannot change the ways of the world. I am, after all just one person. But what I do know is that I want to help increase the awareness for animal welfare, beginning with my country and later, spreading it on to the world, one step at a time.