THEY say it shouldn’t happen to a vet... but it frequently does!

It’s a profession that’s been in the spotlight a lot recently, with BBC’s Panorama programmes highlighting such issues as dog over-population (particularly certain breeds, like Staffordshire bull terriers) and questionable vet practices.

But it is still a very popular occupation, as local vet Tom Mowlem can attest to.

“A lot of people like the idea, but we always try and put the work experience students off, showing them the worst sides of the job – in the hope that only the truly dedicated will follow it through.”

You have to be a people person too – it’s not just about the animals.

“You need to have empathy with the animals AND their owners – an understanding of the relationship.”

Joint partner at Winton’s Companion Care Tom, 38, who lives in Southbourne with his family of three children and his wife (who is expecting their fourth) is passionate about his profession, though he recognises its flaws.

“We don’t really like blowing our own trumpet; as a profession, we’re not very good at transparency, at telling people about what we do.”

And as a consequence, he believes, there’s an air of mystery, or “behind closed doors”, which programmes like Panorama try to uncover.

In It Shouldn’t Happen at a Vets’, a large corporate vet company was shown to be offering the most expensive treatments for animals, even if that was not necessarily the correct primary option.

According to Tom: “All vets have the same responsibility, corporate or not. You’ve got to offer a range of options to suit all budgets, and the animals’ needs come first.

“This profession should never be just about making money, and it certainly doesn’t – most vet practices do well to make even a modest profit!”

Regarding the issue of untrained staff handling animals and performing procedures, which was also highlighted in the BBC programme, he said: “I’m not happy with that.”

It certainly doesn’t happen at his Winton surgery, or in most surgeries, in his opinion, although he does point out that everyone has to learn, and so student vets and nurses all have to try a procedure for the first time once – which is something the Royal College of Veterinary Surgery (RCVS) is very clear on.

The subject of dog over-populations is a tougher one to tackle, however.

“Regulation of pet ownership is very very difficult.

“It would be harsh, in some ways, to regulate pets.

“If you put a lot of regulations in place, you could penalise low-income owners.”

On the controversial subject of breeding animals, he says: “If you’re going to breed for type over welfare, that’s always going to be wrong.”

But when it comes to advice for future pet owners, Tom is clear: “Rescue centres should be your first port of call.”

Many dogs taken into centres have to be put to sleep, though this is usually based on an unsuitable temperament.

This sorry task is one Tom has had to perform. Euthanasia for any animal is “the most emotional bit of the job, but we do it every day”, he adds.

And then there’s the tragic situations. As I watch Tom masterfully fix a pin into a baby snowy owl’s broken wing, the hopes in the spotless surgery noticeably rise – until the poor little thing stops breathing, despite everybody’s best efforts.

Sadly animals are vulnerable creatures, and these things happen.

Of course, it’s not all doom and gloom in this business.

Having worked with the animals at Cricket St Thomas Wildlife Park, he’s seen all sides of the animal kingdom.

His favourite? Probably the hormone studies with the elephants.

“Can you can imagine dabbling in the nether-regions of an elephant?”

Well, I suspect we’ve all got a mental image now...