Michael Clark: MOVING ABROAD WITH YOUR PET 
What To Do If Your Pet Goes Missing 
Stephen Gallagher: TIMELESS MEMORIES 
Did You Know Pets Get Toothache? 
Pawsome PALS FOR YOUNG READERS 
This Funny Pupper is Taking the Internet By Storm Growing up in Hong Kong, Dr Walter was surrounded by pets of all species imaginable; dogs, cats, rabbits, hamsters, snakes, lizards, spiders, ferrets – you name it! With over-population a concern, it became common for pets to be treated as the children of the household, rather than the typical functional role.
Moving to Australia to study veterinary science at UQ a decade ago, the young animal lover fell immediately in love with the outdoors.
What was it like starting a new life in Australia?
Moving straight out of high school to Gatton, Brisbane where UQ Vet School is located at, was so contrasting to life in Hong Kong. I had a great bunch of people from my cohort, so it has been nothing but fantastic since I moved here. My partner and I have a cat at home and we enjoy exploring cafes and great hikes around Brisbane at our time off.
Did you grow up surrounded by pets?
Funnily enough I actually never had a pet growing up! Maybe it is the whole ‘you want what you can’t have’ thing… Jokes aside I was lucky enough to have my wonderful parents who provided me with the support and encouragement to pursue the path of becoming a vet.
What do love most about being a vet?
For the most part, I enjoy being a vet (especially the bit where I have to deal with anal glands… not!) but particularly surgery and consulting. Surgery can be the decisive treatment for many illnesses and by doing so, gives the patients a much better chance in recovering from that. Consulting is something I did not expect I would enjoy doing when I was still in uni, but now to be able to connect with my clients and see how they interact with their pets is something I would always consider as a privilege.
What made you choose to become a veterinarian?
I have always wanted to work with animals and to help those in need. Like many vets out there, I have always had a strong affection and bond to animals since I was little and to be able to work with animals on a daily basis is something I have always dreamed of. The choice was between working as a conservationist or a veterinarian and I chose the latter in the end. My family could not be more supportive in helping me fulfil this dream and my friends weren’t surprised when I told them I was leaving Hong Kong to pursue my veterinary degree.
How do you spend your non-clinic days?
Most of the days, when I am not in the clinic I am pounding pavements or on a twisty, dirt trail. Cooking, photography and reading some good books are also my favourite past-times.
We hear that you currently have a cat named Taylor, could you tell us more about him?
Taylor has been with us since the end of 2014 when I met him at a clinic at Dalby during my clinical placements. He was a stray cat and was unfortunately trapped in a rat cage for a few days. He was dehydrated and scared when I first met him, but has since come a long way. Now he spends most of his days running around the house and sleeps on every single possible spot in the house. Taylor loves hogging my sleeping spaces and has an unfortunate obsession with cockroaches. I also bought a cat backpack to bring him out hiking when the weather is cooler. Anything for environmental enrichment!
What do you love about working at Monty and Minx Calamvale Vets?
The team at Monty and Minx Calamvale Vets are amazingly professional, friendly and adaptable – they always go the extra mile for clients and their pets. The clients here are very devoted pet parents who would often put their pets before themselves. The different cultural backgrounds some of the owners are from are also very inspiring.
