Dr Abigail Pinnock finds purpose in veterinary medicine

Learning the responsibilities that came with caring for an animal was second nature to Abigail Pinnock. She grew up with every pet you could think of: a parrot, turtle, hamster, dog, rabbit, baby crocodile, and snake, and absolutely loved every priceless moments and memories. She would even assist her father in the deworming process, as well as tend to any wounds. So it came as no surprise to her family and friends that she went on to practise veterinary medicine. Today, the doctor in veterinary medicine owns and runs a mobile care service for animals.

“I love what I do and it does not feel like a job. It feels like an opportunity to serve our beautiful animals. The satisfaction from being around them is enough,” the first runner-up in the 2020 Miss Universe Jamaica pageant told Living. That life-changing experience in pageantry saw her receiving the altruism award for raising funds for the Jamaica Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (JSPCA) towards the construction of a new home for the entity.

With a shortage of veterinarians in Jamaica and around the world, many persons have found it difficult to access quality veterinary services at a reasonable price, especially in rural areas. Pinnock has tapped into this niche market, providing her clients with access to the needed service. “This includes diagnostics like X-rays, ultrasound and blood work in a fully equipped surgical suite. Everything you’d have in a full-size clinic is brought right to their doorstep or at a central location. Providing this convenience for our clients, there is less stress for the animals as they are treated in a familiar environment,” the vet shared.

Dr Pinnock dreamed of pursuing a career in veterinary medicine from the age of four. By sixth grade, Pinnock was naming and designing her veterinary practice on Sims games. Attending Immaculate Conception High School, she said, provided her with a well-rounded education that went way beyond just academics. “The school prepared me for leadership,” she said. Involved with swimming, trumpet and the prefect and student council body, she was instrumental in resuscitating the Protection of Animal Welfare in Society (PAWS) club, where she became the president. This was one of her proudest achievements to date.

She went on to pursue her studies at The University of the West Indies, St Augustine campus. Although she was studying away from home, she learnt the importance of good time management skills.

“I learnt resilience from my internship at the Tuskegee College of Veterinary Medicine. At times, I would have to be up working on animals throughout the night until the following morning,” she revealed. During her internship at the Western College of Veterinary Medicine in Canada, the young vet went on to develop her critical thinking skills and master how to keep a cool head under extreme pressure.

CHALLENGING JOURNEY

While describing her work with animals as therapeutic, vet school was no walk in the park. In fact, it was the most challenging thing she has ever done in life, “It is a lot different from other lines of medicine, as you have to learn about so many different species. Their anatomy, pharmacology and physiology are all different. Many times along the way, I felt like giving up. But the interest and passion kept me going.”

Her work experience spanned working with horses, cows, sheep, goats, pigs and alpacas while in the United States and Canada. But when she returned home, she shifted her focus to her new clientèle of dogs, cats, rabbits, birds, guinea pigs, hamsters, goats and horses. “There were a few occasions where I got to work with iguanas and crocodiles, which I found interesting,” she added.

Since practising for seven years, her favourite aspect of veterinary medicine is surgery, “I fell in love with surgery while doing some work at the Houston Humane Society with Dr Malone and Dr Scruggs, who were both exceptional surgeons. They became my mentors and inspiration as they did surgeries on over 60 animals per day at a high-volume clinic. They taught me amazing surgical techniques and I was so grateful for their mentorship.”

With great passion, she spoke about how disheartening it has been to witness and treat cases of animal cruelty. During her tenure at the JSPCA, she recalled coming across countless cases of that brutal nature and having no choice but to seize several animals from abusive owners and environments. “The laws and fines for animal cruelty are in desperate need of review and upgrade,” she told Living.

To keep up with the trends in veterinary medicine, Dr Pinnock attends at least one major international conference per year, while remaining active on online forums, doing extensive reading and networking with colleagues both locally and overseas.

The demands of the job are so great with Island Mobile Vets that plans are already underway to start another mobile unit. “Veterinary medicine is a good field. So my only advice is, if it is your passion, take some time out to volunteer at various veterinary clinics and shadow other vets to hone your skills and start getting some experience. Don’t limit your dreams, and never give up,” the expert vet urged.

krysta.anderson@gleanerjm.com