Happy birthday to us… Happy birthday to us… Happy birthday to The Meowing Vet… Happy first birthday to us! ๐๐
It’s June 23, 2017, and The Meowing Vet celebrates its one year anniversary today! With the aim of providing support and hope to others, we share how we got our start.
The Meowing Vet and its corresponding Facebook page were officially launched on June 23, 2016.ย Veterinarian Maranda Elswick, DVM, simultaneously faced the tragic death of a close family member as well as a life-altering diagnosis of another while suffering fromย compassion fatigue in the veterinary profession. When crushing life changes moved her to seek a necessary change regarding how to continue to be a vet in a new phase of life, the idea for The Meowing Vet was born. Grief and depression set in following the seeming collapse of her world, temporarily stripping Dr. Elswick of the strength to get out of bed… of the will to even keep breathing. Yet the want — nay, the NEED — to continue to help animals persisted. The power of the human-animal bond is a formidable force.ย โค๏ธ
Dr. Elswick found solace and hope in one newly emerging idea… a veterinary website to reach pet owners worldwide to educate and discuss the in-depth health issues of dogs and cats and answer the questions that pet owners run out of time to ask their own vets. With the support of her faith, family, close friends, and dear partner, Dr. Elswick hesitantly started www.themeowingvet.com with immense insecurity over what response it would garner.ย I don’t have a formal background in website design or public relations. Fellow veterinarians are going to laugh at my silly little pursuit. I wish I were as resilient as my colleagues. Why am I experiencing compassion fatigue so early in my veterinary career? I’m not going to make any real difference to the well-being of any animal with my little website idea! she thought.
“I do not try to dance better than anyone else; I try to dance better than myself.” – Mikhail Baryshnikov
Although that worried little voice continued to speak in the back of Dr. Elswick’s mind, its volume became quieter and quieter, and she persisted in her vision of creating a veterinary website and social media corporation, turning her creative and compassionate outlet into a business and a lifeline. Transitioning from a full-time clinical job to veterinary relief work allowed Dr. Elswick to balance serving animals while helping family. The greater scheduling flexibility also allowed Dr. Elswick to continue The Meowing Vet, which grew and grew and grew over the next year, far surpassing her expectations! Now with readers in English-speaking countries all around the globe, Dr. Elswick is able to converse with national and international pet owners and fellow veterinarians to share knowledge and insight to improve the health and happiness of thousands of pets.
“What if I fall? Oh, but my darling, what if you fly?” – Eric Hanson
So thank you. You!!! You’re the reason behind The Meowing Vet’s success. You’re the reason why the veterinarian behind The Meowing Vet continues to do what she does. YOU’re the type of pet owner that Dr. Elswick is so thankful for… the type of pet owner that seeks to understand complex illnesses, to learn why preventative medicine is so vital, and to improve the lives of your dogs and cats. So thank you for an amazing first year of this new veterinary chapter and for bringing a heartbroken veterinarian — a PERSON! — back to life.
Fun fact: The Meowing Vet’s signature kitty-themed logo is filled with symbolism: the excited anticipation of planting a simple seed and working diligently at nurturing it while envisioning it growing into a blooming and beautiful new creation.
STAY IN THE LOOP OF OUR DAILY ANIMAL VIDEOS AND SHARED NEWS ARTICLES BY FOLLOWING THE MEOWING VET ON FACEBOOK AND INSTAGRAM (@THEMEOWINGVET). AND SIGN UP FOR OUR BLOG MAILING LIST IN THE RIGHT-HAND SIDEBAR OF YOUR DESKTOP BROWSER SO YOU NEVER MISS OUT ON OUR WEEKLY INFORMATIVE ARTICLES. YOU CAN HELP US (AND ANIMALS) IMMENSELY BY SHARING OUR SITEโS ARTICLES WITH YOUR PET-LOVING FRIENDS AND INVITING THEM TO LIKE OUR FACEBOOK PAGE! BEFORE YOU GO, WE WANT TO SEE YOUR BEST PET PHOTOSย TO FEATURE ON OUR WEBSITE; CLICK HERE FOR SUBMISSION GUIDELINES! And while you’re at it, visit our pet shopping page!
