ABOUT ME

About my HOMEpage
Hello there it’s great to meet you  J  Welcome to the happy home of The Veterinary Blonde…please come in and enjoy a look around…
Because…
Whether you’re already a devoted animal-lover, fellow Vet, seasoned (or virgin) pet owner, friend, relative or partner to one of the above…or none of the above…(yet!)...you’re exactly where you need in order to have :
your questions answered
and
your animal passion and love for its place in the natural world indulged – Hooray! 

About ME
Most people know me from my website, YouTube and www.pettalkradio.com appearances as The Veterinary Blonde!
My real name is Michelle Shanson and I’m a veterinary surgeon with almost nine years of small animal practice in the UK up my tailored sleeve.
Put simply I completely LOVE and ADORE animals…and together with nature, they are my all consuming passion and purpose.

Why did I become a Vet?
As long as I can remember my parents encouraged me to embrace the natural world and experience animals and nature with wonder and respect.  I spent countless dreamy afternoons in sunny gardens and parks watching insects, listening to birds and drawing flowers. 
Growing up in North London, I was lucky enough to enjoy access to the city’s crowning glories; the stunning Hampstead Heath and the picturesque beauty of two famous Hills, Kenwood and Primrose.
I grew up in a family of keen sailors and was often bundled excitedly aboard various boats.  I have never forgotten the pure joy of being a tiny child afloat in a majestic sea off the south coast of England, feeding the fish and (when in harbour) the ducks and swans.

On one particular sailing holiday in Greece I was blessed to see a pod of wild dolphins play in the water around our boat.  In that amazingly magical moment I recognized my life’s purpose: living and working with animals.
                                           
At the age of 14 I was lucky enough to get a Saturday job helping out at the local veterinary surgery.  I was so excited when I discovered that this experience only served to completely confirm my vocation...I was on my way!

 About my own Beloved Pets
Growing up in my family we always had pets.  My sister and I kept tropical fish and later on we also had terrapins.  They were beautiful creatures. Looking back though, I realize that we probably shouldn’t have had them, as there really wasn’t enough information available in the 1980’s about how to properly care for them.
We also kept a beautiful rabbit, three friendly budgerigars and a gorgeous black rescue tomcat called Rafiki.  He was a friendly, sociable, talkative and playful moggie who was absolutely my best friend and confidante through the trials of my teenage years. He even put up with me practicing my vet skills on him whilst at university!
Rafiki lived until he was 18 years old. At the end euthanasia was the kindest option and so it was with great sadness that I put him to sleep 3 yrs after graduating as a vet. I still miss him.
At university I had two rats that kept me – and everyone else! - amused.  Early on in our married life, my husband and I had four female guinea pigs that lived in our lounge and talked a lot!  Now we have our darling little rescue dog, a vivacious Jack Russell Terrier called Dixie who we cannot imagine life without

Exactly what qualifies ME to be YOUR favourite Veterinary Blonde!
Well…apart from being a highly vocal, sassy, stylish, passionate, empowered, female (and blonde) advocate for all things animal and nature, I also :
graduated from Bristol University Veterinary School in 1999;
passed the Northern American Veterinary Licensing Exam (NAVLE) in 2005;
celebrated my love of language and communication by gaining certification as a Master Practitioner of Neuro-Linguistic Programming (NLP) in 2007 and completing a course in Presentation & Platform skills;
enjoy membership of the British Small Animal Veterinary Association, the British Veterinary Association and the Royal College of Veterinary Surgeons;
enjoy supporting the charitable efforts of the Worldwide Veterinary Service (www.wvs.org.uk);
love people too!

My VISION for www.VeterinaryBlonde.com
Developing this site has quickly become my full-time pleasure. However, because I absolutely LOVE practicing as a vet I still work as a veterinary locum at various surgeries in the London region.
 
My vision for this website is that it thrives as a supportive online community for animal-lovers like you, committed to sharing valuable information so that pet ownership can be as fun and stress-free as possible.

Would you like to share in my mission statement?  Here it is :-

“To present accurate information about animal health and welfare in fun ways to inspire people to act with maximum kindness and compassion.”

I believe the online access to correct information makes committing to this easy – and by being well informed YOU are a vital part of the grass roots solution to looking out for animal welfare…everywhere you go, every day you live.

Some of the problems I've encountered in small animal practice include :-
                                                            
people acquiring unsuitable or unhealthy animals;
lack of information and understanding about basic animal biology / husbandry;
lack of understanding of potential cost implications of owning pets;
confusion about preventative pet care;          
people not understanding when they should seek professional vet care and advice.

The terrific news is that I know you & I can succeed in eradicating problems like this together through www.veterinaryblonde.com and its partner organizations.

Sound good?  Well then, welcome!  It’s terrific to have you on board J
                                                                                                                         
Yours in gratitude & partnership,
VB x