Vet Files - WSPA's Vets - Animal Mosaic

I would encourage those aspiring to be vets never to
lose focus that their patients are the animals and not
the humans.
About ROSANGELA
When I was young my mother would help stray cats, dogs
and birds that she found on the street. We never bought an
animal, we looked after these abandoned ones, always taking
in those with poor skin condition, blindness and lameness.
My childhood dream was to have a big farm to keep all the
unfortunate animals in. But I soon realised that this was not a
solution and began to have a new awareness about the wider
animal situation. Then I knew I wanted to be a vet.
At university I had two lecturers, Professor Julia Matera
and Professor Irvenia Prada, who influenced me a lot and
introduced me to animal welfare. As a result, I began to
question the use of live animals in the vet classes. Some of
my class colleagues and I voiced our concerns about this and
the university stopped using dogs during surgical classes.
An alternative technique of using preserved cadavers was
developed and is still in use today.
My training brought up many ethical dilemmas, especially in
classes where they used live animals in a harmful way, such
as toxicology, physiology and reproduction. I remember one
specific occasion where I refused to perform yet another rectal
palpation on a cow that had been palpated many times.
All these questions at university made me curious about animal
welfare. I attended a workshop run by WSPA in 1995 called
‘Pet Respect’ where I learnt about the humane way to control
dog and cat populations.
During the disastrous floods in Pernambuco, Brazil in June
2010, I saw many dogs in terrible conditions, prisoners on
short chains. But I could not argue with their owners as they
were poor families who lost everything to the floods and were
ignorant of animal welfare. The saddest experience for me was
when I had to euthanise a dog at terminal stage of distemper
in front of his owner – a little girl who had lost her home. The
family was very poor and the dog was suffering badly, so I had
no choice. I clearly remember euthanising him on the patch of
mud and rubble that was once the family’s home. This scene
and the child’s anguish will always stay in my mind.
But there were also some uplifting moments during my work
in the floods. I was able to assist a lot of poor people who had
lost everything. However, they did still have hope and were
looking after their animals in the shelters; it was a difficult time
and I was very happy to help them. I am now working with
animals in Rio de Janeiro following the severe floods of early
2011. In just one week, we managed to reach and provide aid
for 500 animals, which is a fantastic outcome.
I would encourage those aspiring to be vets and tell them not
to give up on their dreams. If they follow their heart and their
genuine desire they will be rewarded for doing what they love.
But I also would tell them never to lose focus that their patients
are the animals and not the humans.
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