From: Doctors Beck & Stone

Harrow School Visit
I very much enjoyed my recent visit to Beijing Harrow School, where I talked to early-years children about the joys of being a vet. The visit was part of their recent topic focusing on pets. It’s really great to see future generations of pet owners taking an active interest in responsible pet ownership at such a young age.

I talked to them about the different animals I have cared for thus far, including dogs and cats, of course, but also black and white rhino, lions, giraffes, leopards, eagles, snakes and tigers! The children were all too happy to provide the necessary sound effects, and were able to do much better impressions of an elephant eating a banana than me.

I then answered questions ranging from “what’s your favorite animal?” (a mountain gorilla came the reply) to “what were you doing to that zebra?!” (moving it to a new home) and “have you ever treated an alien?”. The children then took great delight in telling me all about their own pet animals, both real and, I assume, imagined – unless Beijing really does have an abundance of pet tigers!

I left full of hope for the future of companion animal welfare in China, and wonder whether any of the very bright children of Harrow School that I spoke to will be inspired to take up the same dream I pursued from a similarly early age, and ultimately become a veterinary surgeon.

Dr Thom Jenkins BA VetMB MRCVS Cantab.
VIP Consultant
Doctors Beck & Stone