March 2025
By Dr. Rebecca McLean, Bay Country Veterinary Hospital, Crownsville, MD

In this VETgirl online veterinary continuing education blog, Dr. Rebecca McLean with Bay Country Veterinary Hospital in Crownsville, MD highlights the professional and personal benefits of volunteerism. Participation in volunteer organizations enriches the participants wellbeing as well as the community in which you serve. And for Dr. McLean, checked off a bucket list travel destination! Read more to learn about opportunities for veterinary volunteerism!

Veterinary Volunteerism: How a Philanthropic Mission is Good for the Soul (and for my bucket list!)

It’s amazing when you’re able to take two of your passions and put them together into an incredible, life-changing experience. And this past November, that’s exactly what I did. My love for traveling abroad, paired with my love of practicing veterinary medicine, came together when I had the opportunity to volunteer in Porto Cheli, Greece.

Me in Porto Cheli, Greece for my four-day spay/neuter program – what an amazing and rewarding trip!

I was fortunate enough to join Veterinary Global Aid (VGA) on a four-day Spay/Neuter program, and let me just say, VGA defines what it means to be small in size but mighty with its impact. I may be a bit biased as the non-profit was founded by Dr. Anna Katogiritis, a Greek American veterinarian who also happens to be my sister-in-law. But the work done by VGA to help animals in need across the globe is inspiring, and it was a true privilege to be involved.

Before I dive into the specifics, I also want to express my gratitude for the support of my practice, Bay Country Veterinary Hospital in Crownsville, Maryland. I also want to acknowledge our parent company Blue River PetCare who worked together with our biggest vendors and partners to donate supplies, including surgical packs, for our trip to ensure we could have the greatest impact possible. And boy, did we ever!

If you’ve been to Greece, you’ve probably noticed that street cats are astonishingly abundant. Anywhere you look, there are three to a dozen cats and kittens walking up and down the alleyways. They aren’t generally looked at as nuisance stray animals – instead, locals are very fond of them, lining up bowls of water and food on their stoops and doorways. The enthusiasm of the neighborhood volunteers is what made this trip even more rewarding for us.

A local street cat visiting a hand-made “kitty restaurant” in Spetses, Greece.

Anna and VGA brought together a team of veterinarians and technicians from Germany, Greece, the UK, Portugal and the United States to perform spays, neuters and other small surgeries. Together, they created a makeshift veterinary clinic in a small road-side strip mall and engaged locals and volunteers to round up cats and kittens roaming the streets. In just four days, we were able to perform a mind-blowing 354 surgeries! While we mostly focused on cats and kittens, we also had the pleasure of taking care of some dogs – mostly sweet, sheep-doggy pups that like to spend their time lying in the Greek sunshine.

Thanks to a collective effort from veterinarians and technicians around the world, we were able to perform 354 surgeries in just four days!

I’ve never done a high-speed program like this before – while it was a bit overwhelming at first, we got into a groove and were able to help so many animals in need. I was assigned to a role which included running the OR, monitoring anesthesia and helping with post-op care. It was incredibly rewarding to watch the magic happen and help create a healthier, brighter future for these very deserving animals. It was very rewarding to watch them recover and return to the city they call home.

I know opportunities like this are far and few between, but I’m thrilled that I was able to be a part of something so transformational. My colleagues at Bay Country Veterinary Hospital, along our parent company, Blue River PetCare, were a big part of making this a reality. Fun fact, Bay Country Veterinary Hospital was the very first practice to be taken under Blue River’s wing!

The street cats in Porto Cheli, Greece are admired by locals and tourists alike.

Blue River PetCare is all about creating careers and opportunities for veterinarians and seasoned technicians that match their lifestyle and help them pursue their purpose AND their passions. One way they are doing that is by making more trips like this possible – the company is in its initial stages of putting together a program that will create even more volunteer trip opportunities for its clinical team members across the country.

More information on this initiative will be available soon – in the meantime, if you’re considering your next career move, check out myDVMlifestyle.com to see how Blue River PetCare can help you shape your professional path around your personal goals.

This trip strengthened my love of travel and, of course, my love of veterinary medicine. Seeing us all come together with a collective commitment to helping animals in need showed me just how incredible this industry truly is. I can’t wait for my next trip – I’m crossing my fingers for Uganda! A big thank you again to my hospital, my colleagues, VGA and Blue River PetCare for turning this dream into a reality.

Dr. Anna Katogiritis (my sister-in-law!) from Veterinary Global Aid and myself gearing up for a rewarding day of helping our furry friends.

For more information on Veterinary Global Aid, please visit https://www.veterinaryglobalaid.org. Since the day of its inception by Dr. Katogiritis, Veterinary Global Aid, Inc was endorsed by UN Messenger of Peace Dr. Jane Goodall.  https://youtu.be/95Pk-NMTpqo

Blue River Petcare

Today’s VETgirl blog is sponsored by Blue River PetCare. The Vet Med field is always changing. So are you. Celebrate the new year by finding the perfect practice for your DVM lifestyle with Blue River PetCare. With nearly 200 locations across the country, you can choose to practice medicine in the mountains, among the bright lights of a big city, or anywhere in between. Advance your profession AND your passions with a team that supports and celebrates each chapter of your life. Visit myDVMlifestyle.com to make 2025 your best year yet.

Please note that the opinions in this blog are expressed by the sponsor/author, and not directly endorsed by VETgirl.


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