end of life care for pets

Dr Belinda (aka Dr Bel or Dr B) graduated from Murdoch University at the end of 1990 and moved to the UK immediately to take up a position in a ten vet VERY mixed practice in scenic South Yorkshire. James Herriot this was NOT! A baptism of fire ensued between the snowy arrival, the Yorkshire accents and the wide range of cases. This was followed by a longer stint in mixed practice in Dover, Kent, before spending 8months locumming and travelling prior to her fathers sudden death, and her urgent return home. 

After spending a four month locum in Singapore, as the overnight vet in a very busy small animal practice, she returned to Perth, keen to put down some roots for a while. Belinda joined the crew at Malibu Vet, in Safety Bay, and, under the mentorship of Dr Peter Adamson, became part of a terrific team. This professional association and the friendships she made continue-to this day.

In 1999 Belinda was invited to apply for the position of Director: Continuing Veterinary Education at Murdoch University, a position that was further expanded to include the Directorship of the Veterinary Trust and Veterinary Alumni. Amongst other responsibilities, Belinda planned the annual calendars, coordinated international speakers, and promoted the local courses.

 During this time she also continued regular weekend shifts at Malibu and a few at the (then) fledgling Murdoch Pet Emergency Centre (MPEC).

In 2003 she resigned from the administrative position, and joined the team at MPEC, full-time, where she stayed predominantly, with short breaks, until 2015. During 2004 and 2005 Belinda trained for, and completed two Ironman Triathlons, an experience she loved, does not regret, but which left her body somewhat broken, with injuries that slow her down to this day. 

From 2005 - 2008 Belinda combined her emergency work at MPEC with the development and running of a small private consultancy, focussing on dedicated home euthanasia for pets, and owner bereavement support. 

This was called Epitaph, and was the first euthanasia-only mobile practice in Perth, and possibly Australia, at the time. Belinda faced some raised eyebrows from colleagues who didn't feel there was such a need, but they were wrong, her clients were universally grateful, and now there are multiple similar services operating in Australia and throughout the world. 

During this time Belinda also ran seminars for Vets, Vet students and vet nursing students in the subjects of pet loss related grief, and how to make euthanasia easier, emotionally, for everyone involved. Unfortunately, she was unable to balance the business with mothering her new son, and therefore closed Epitaph formally in 2009. 

However end-of-life issues remained a passion for Belinda- smoothing the passage from life to death for our pets, and helping their owners at the same time, is not something you easily walk away from. If you are reading this bio, then you will know that Belinda has returned to the service of this passion, which never really left her.

Between 2016 and 2019 Belinda was the owner of a mixed practice south of the Perth metropolitan area. This time of life became fraught with financial stress and disaster, business loss and sorrow. The resulting several years were spent in introspection, metaphorical wound licking, and the journey towards rediscovery of what is the most important thing to her professionally…end-of-life care of pets, and support of their quardians..

And so, following enforced isolation for Covid infection and a week of (literally) sleeping and thinking, on the first day of winter in 2022 Epitaph was re-born.