Exclusive film screening at the Southwest Veterinary Symposium

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Attendees of the Southwest Veterinary Symposium (SWVS) will have access to an exclusive film screening of The Dog, starring Kate Walsh, who is best known for her portrayal of Dr Addison Montgomery on ABC’s long-running series Grey’s Anatomy.¹ The screening of the 12-minute short film will be followed by a panel discussion and Q&A on Thursday, September 26, from 2:30-3:30_PM CDT.¹ The event, held in the Fort Worth Convention Center, is available to all conference attendees at no additional cost.¹

The Dog—written, directed, and produced by Australian filmmaker Danielle Baynes—shines a light on the mental health challenges and emotional toll of responsibilities faced by many veterinary professionals.² The film follows Claire (Kate Walsh), an overworked veterinarian at a 24-hour clinic, as she struggles with the pressures of a particularly difficult shift, including a power outage, personal demons, and an ethical dilemma regarding a sick dog.²

The film premiered at the Bentonville Film Festival in June 2024 and was made available to veterinary organizations around the same time to be shared in private screenings. Releasing the film in this way is intended to raise awareness and generate conversation about the issue of mental health in the veterinary profession. According to the SWVS, the short film is also intended to provide the industry with an accessible educational resource to facilitate mental wellbeing discussions and encourage feelings of empathy and support towards veterinarians.¹

All attendees are welcomed to stick around for a post-screening panel discussion, according to the SWVS. Speakers will include Baynes; Dave Shuey, LMSW, DMA, a veterinary social worker with IndeVets and a retired registered veterinary technician; Brian Bourquin, DVM, president of Not One More Vet, and a practicing veterinarian and clinic owner; and Marisa Brunetti, VMD, chief veterinary officer for IndeVets.¹

According to the SWVS, screening attendees can expect to come away with a greater appreciation of the connection between euthanasia and veterinary suicide, and the knowledge that suicidal thoughts are only dangerous when unmentionable. The film also relays that death is not the only answer to suffering and that relationships can make the difference.¹

In an IndeVets blog post, Dylan Krowicki, VMD, shared his personal experience with the film.³ “The Dog brought up an intense and visceral reaction in me that speaks to how accurate the film was in how it depicted what veterinarians go through every day,” Krowicki wrote. “…this film reminded me that this is very much a shared experience, and that bringing this to light will hopefully remind many other vets that they are in fact, not alone.”

References

1. SWVS Events. Southwest Veterinary Symposium. Accessed September 26, 2024. https://swvs.org/swvs-events/
2. Coppock K. Short film highlights mental health struggles in veterinary medicine. dvm360. May 6, 2024. Accessed September 26, 2024. https://www.dvm360.com/view/short-film-highlights-mental-health-struggles-in-veterinary-medicine
3. Krowicki D. Every vet has a worst day story: Reflections on mental health & “The Dog.” IndeVets. July 29, 2024. Accessed September 26, 2024. https://indevets.com/blog/reflections-on-mental-health-the-dog/