Finally a Film That Captures the Trauma of Being a Vet

For as long as I’ve worked in the veterinary industry, I’ve tried to articulate how hard it is to be a vet. But I haven’t been able to do it justice with words. The Dog is a new, short film that finally captures the darker realities of the profession the world doesn’t see. Every non-vet should see this.

The Dog features Grey’s Anatomy actor, Kate Walsh, and explores the often-unspoken challenges and mental health struggles faced by those in veterinary medicine. We’re proud to be a small part of supporting this important film, directed by an Australian filmmaker, Danielle Baynes.

The Dog is currently only being shown at film festivals, but IndeVets is hosting a screening and panel discussion later this month at Southwest Veterinary Symposium.

My introduction to The Dog

I learned about The Dog in the summer of 2023. Danielle is an award-winning short filmmaker whose passion is social issues. Comments, her powerful and intense film about teenage cyberbullying, was selected for numerous film festivals and won several awards.

I am not a veterinarian myself. But it doesn’t take long when you’re working in an animal hospital to see the serious toll being a vet can take on mental health. People outside the profession often think that the job is a joyful one, which it is, but not all the time. The reality is that days often carry an emotional weight that few can understand. It’s not uncommon to perform multiple euthanasias in a single shift. And that procedure might immediately be followed by a puppy appointment or wellness visit.

Since founding IndeVets, I’ve learned many of our doctors have lost colleagues to suicide. In fact, a 2019 CDC study revealed veterinarians are between two and four times more likely to die by suicide than the general population.

For all these reasons, the film seemed really important to make. It was time to share the story of what it’s really like to be a vet, since Danielle created the opportunity for us to help tell it in an authentic way.

Seeing is believing

Danielle shared the film in its early stages, and the first from our team to watch it were Dr. Marisa Brunetti, our Chief Veterinary Officer, Dave Shuey, our Veterinary Social Worker, Molly Watson, our head of Marketing, and me. We all agreed the film was even better than expected, with amazing quality and acting performances. It was also disturbing and unsettling, staying in our thoughts for days. We were a bit awestruck at how much Danielle was able to pack into those 12 short minutes.

Dave expressed a deep belief that the film accurately portrayed the emotional experience of a veterinarian in distress. He assured us that the rawness and honesty of the storytelling would not be “too much” for people to see; rather that it was a unique opportunity to communicate our care for each other in a powerful way, by making the darkness mentionable.

What struck me the most, and what I believe makes the film unique, is that it is the first realistic portrayal I’ve seen of what it’s really like to be a vet.

Tears, stories, and appreciation – sharing the film with the larger IndeVets team

We were eager to hear how the film resonated with the 250 vets on our team – but it was even more important to bring this to our non-vets at HQ. We watched the film together on two separate video meetings this summer. It was emotional all around and many were wiping away tears. I’m especially grateful several doctors and non-vets alike felt comfortable sharing their reactions and stories with the group. Voices cracked as many told of their personal experiences with this same issue. Their vulnerability was moving and impactful.

For some other vets, it brought up memories of their worst day on the job that they had buried away. One doctor shared that she once had performed 12 euthanasias in a single shift.

It was an extremely eye-opening experience for members of our HQ team – many of whom don’t have first-hand experience working in animal hospitals. Liz Semon from our marketing team commented, “We hear about this from our vets all the time, but we don’t get to walk in their shoes in clinic and experience what it feels like. This film was an awakening to the stark differences in our jobs, and it made me that much more committed to our mission.”

Somehow, I get more emotional each time I see The Dog. At the end of the film, there’s a moment when a vet tech steps in to support a veterinarian during her darkest hour, extends a hand, and says, “I got you.” After witnessing this level of understanding and support at clinics over the years, it was powerful to see it captured on screen.

The Dog  in the wild

The Dog premiered at Geena Davis’ Bentonville Film Festival in June and was recently part of the Academy Awards-qualifying HollyShorts Film Festival. The reviews have been amazing, and in my opinion, spot on. Reel News Daily called it a “powerful short that pierces your heart,” and FilmThreat said it’s a “masterclass in storytelling.”

See for yourself and join the conversation

We’re hosting an exclusive screening and panel discussion at 2:30 pm on Thursday, September 26 at the Southwest Veterinary Symposium (SWVS). The event is open to all conference attendees at no additional cost. The panel will feature Danielle Baynes, Dr. Marisa Brunetti, and Dave Shuey, along with Dr. Brian Bourquin, president of Not One More Vet (NOMV) – a valued partner of ours, on a mission to transform the state of mental wellness in our industry.

We hope the SWVS event sparks conversations and leads to connection and an understanding that no one needs to go through this alone. If you’ll be attending SWVS, we would love for you to join us, and you can register here.

Members of the veterinary industry also have the opportunity to host private group screenings of The Dog, alongside a comprehensive screening guide to facilitate discussion. For more information or to request a private screening, click here.

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If you or someone you know is struggling, help is available, and resources are below.

• Not One More Vet – Mental wellness education, resources, and support for veterinary professionals.
• 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline. – Call. Text. Chat. 24/7 free and confidential support for people in distress, prevention, and crisis resources, and best practices for professionals.
• Crisis Text Line – Text “HOME” to 741741. Connect with a volunteer Crisis Counselor. Free, confidential 24/7 support.
• American Veterinary Medical Association Wellness Page – Workplace wellness programs and crisis hotlines.
• The National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI) – Resources for mental health crises.
• IndeVets Wellness Resources by Veterinary Social Worker, Dave Shuey – Wellness education, support, and resources to increase veterinarians’ professional health and fulfillment and longevity in the profession.