‘We had to call the police when one man kicked a wall’: my life as a vet’s nurse in badly behaved Britain

theguardian.com:

I trained as a veterinary nurse after university because I love animals, but I also enjoy the scientific aspect. One of the first and most important things I learned is that it’s much more than treating sick pets. You are also dealing with the emotions of owners, which can be really challenging.

One of the problems we are facing in veterinary practice is overwhelm. During lockdown, many people got new pets without preparing for the consequences. As well as poorly socialised dogs, we have seen a rise in the popularity of designer breeds, such as French bulldogs, dachshunds and pugs, that are more prone to health problems than others. At the same time, we have seen a reduction in the number of staff in veterinary clinics across the UK. This is partly due to the loss of European staff since Brexit and partly due to the lack of childcare options. In recent years, our industry has become heavily dominated by women, but many are leaving or being forced to go part-time after having families.

With more pets in the system, there are angry outbursts when it isn’t possible to see one at the practice. Recently, a man became violent when we recommended that his dog be transferred to a different clinic, as we couldn’t accommodate him. He kicked off about the bill and started threatening legal action. Eventually, he got so frustrated that he kicked a wall and we had to call the police. I couldn’t believe he lost his temper like that so publicly.

Since the pandemic, we have also seen a big rise in the number of anxious pet owners. Increased levels of worry often come with irrational behaviour and make people more demanding. We have one client who is very anxious about her animals and always expects instant care and attention. Recently, I