Lauren’s love for animals is boundless

THE Kloof and Highway SPCA’s passionate clinic manager and veterinary nurse, Lauren Paxton, shares how her work life has changed since the nationwide lockdown was implemented in March.

How long have you been at the Kloof and Highway SPCA?

I started as a vet nurse locum in 2012 and worked part-time while running my veterinary physiotherapy business. I started managing the clinic in March 2018.

What was the reason you chose to apply for a position at the NPO?

My passion for welfare grew when I helped out at my first outreach clinic in 2011. I wanted to start giving something back to my community and to our animals. What encourages you to keep doing the work you do on a daily basis?Seeing the difference I can make in both people’s and animals’ lives. Seeing just one stray or abandoned animal experience love, like all animals should, encourages me to carry on.

Describe yourself in three words:

Driven, loyal, empathetic.

How has your work life changed since the lockdown?

The work intensity has increased astronomically due to the current financial distress that a lot of people are finding themselves in. They simply cannot afford private vet treatment. The compassion fatigue that we are experiencing currently is like nothing we have experienced before. People are surrendering their animals as they can no longer afford to care for them or they cannot afford to treat them if they are injured or ill. It is unbelievably heartbreaking. It has, however, brought us together as a team and I am finding that a lot of our staff are rallying together during a very challenging time and this is very encouraging.

ALSO READ: Sarah bares her soul for Kloof SPCA

What did you study and why?

I have had a passion for animals from when I was five years old, so it was not difficult to choose this profession. I studied veterinary nursing and then went on to study veterinary physiotherapy in both the small animal and equine fields.

What are three items you always have on you?

I literally lose everything all the time. Pens are my absolute worst! So I generally have nothing on me and land up having to borrow/steal from my colleagues.

When you are not at work, what do you enjoy doing?

I am a very active person. I enjoy fitness and training as well as competing in obstacle course racing. I love camping and being outdoors, but mostly when I’m not at work, I love spending time with my two little boys. They are my absolute everything.

ALSO READ: Brigitte’s heart beats for Kloof SPCA

Are there any misconceptions people have about your job?

I think the biggest misconception is that our clinic operates in a similar fashion to that of a government hospital. We do not receive any funding from government and rely solely on public support and funding. A lot of people expect us to provide a service that is not sustainable without public funding. We are often treated with disrespect and faced with a lot of angry members of the public because we are unable to provide free veterinary treatment. What people don’t understand is that we are not in this business for any kind of financial gain. It is, in fact, the total opposite. Our vision is to educate pet owners and teach people that there is a huge financial responsibility involved when owning a pet. We are always looking at the bigger picture and we will always make decisions based on what is best for an animal, despite the animosity we are often faced with as a result.

What is one of your favourite memories from your time at the Kloof and Highway SPCA?

One of our longstanding clients brought his pet rooster in to visit his dog in hospital.

What is one thing that you are looking forward to when the lockdown is lifted?

Going camping at the beach!

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