How veterinary nurse, Lulu Peddle, is saving animals around the world
Lulu Peddle grew up in a small town in England, surrounded by farm land. From a young age, she chose to be a farm hand, feeding cattle, rearing calves and driving about on an old grey Massey Ferguson tractor, rather than spending times at parties or clubs.
At 15, she got her first job working at a local veterinary clinic on Saturday mornings. Being at the bottom rung of a career ladder, this job barely allowed her to see an animal, let alone assist with care. The job consisted of odd jobs including washing the veterinarian’s car.
She started training as a veterinary nurse when she was 17 and worked full time at a veterinary clinic while she attended college. It was during this time that she met Dr. Luke Gamble, the CEO and founder of Worldwide Veterinary Services (WVS) - a charity that provides free expert care to animals in need all over the world. They do that by sending veterinarians where they are needed most, training veterinarians to increase the standard of care globally, and by shipping urgent aid supplies worldwide, every week of the year.
Sixteen years later, Lulu is now supporting WVS on a part-time basis and has even gone on volunteering trips to put her nursing skills to use. Although what she does now is far from working in practice, her work ultimately still is focused on the welfare and needs of animals.
For the last 16 years, Worldwide Veterinary Service have been sending vital veterinary aid all around the world. Now, they’re using their global network of animal welfare charities to ensure that animals in need receive the care they deserve through the COVID-19 pandemic.
The current situation is limiting many charities' ability to source the veterinary supplies they need. The pandemic means that WVS can't send their expert vets or volunteers to help these animals, but they can send veterinary supplies, and that’s why they have started a new initiative “Parcels of Hope” – where WVS sources the supplies they need, package them and send these urgent aid parcels wherever requested. Lulu is leading the charge by organizing the donations for shipment.
Despite the current travel restrictions, the global supply network is still operating and their parcels, sent with support from the public, will be making a life-saving difference to animals in need soon.
We caught up with this amazing veterinary nurse to learn more:
If I wasn’t a veterinary nurse:
If I wasn’t a veterinary nurse, I would choose to look after little people instead, a midwife, paediatric nurse or something like that.
The best career advice I ever received
The best career advice I ever received was to always keep your mouth shut when expressing a dogs anal glands - it can be an unpredictable process at times.
The three qualities that helped get me to where I am:
Determination to succeed, a natural love for animals big and small and a caring disposition helped me to be where I am today.
The most agonizing career decision I ever made:
The most agonizing career decision I ever made was to hang up my stethoscope and stop full time nursing, that said it couldn’t have been for a better reason than to concentrate on raising my two young children and had I not left full time nursing then I may not be where I am with the charity today.
What I am most proud of:
I am proud of the working for the charity of WVS, the work we do as a team and the positive impact we have on so many animals lives. There are so many wonderful people doing great work with and for animals and I am happy to play a small part towards recognition and improvement of animal welfare across the world.
The first pound I ever made:
I was a Saturday girl at a local vets aged 15, I spent my time emptying bins, refilling supplies and come rain or shine washing the vets car. At the same time I had an after school job at a nursing home chatting to all the lovely elderly people and refreshing their water jugs.
Books that inspire me:
My favorite book is Goodnight Mr. Tom. I read this book at school and loved it, it’s an eye opener to a period of time in the world unimaginable to someone of my age and I like the impact that both William and Mr Tom had on one another during very troubled times.
What I do after a very stressful day:
I am very fortunate to be extremely laid back in life but if I want an escape I enjoy a walk with my little dog, playing the piano or flute and I’ve always got crochet or knitting on the go.
Advice to my younger self:
I think I’d tell myself to always live in the moment, appreciate the present and those that surround you and not long or look too far into the future as the future is never certain.
What do you think we need more of in our world?
I would love the world to be a safe haven for every living thing. We should promote kindness, remove judgment and increase acceptance of one another no matter what our background, needs or abilities. We weren’t blessed to be on the planet to make war or neglect each other, the animals or the planet either.
Something that changed my life:
I travelled solo to Australia aged 15 and worked at a pet shop, on a sheep station and with koalas and kangaroos at Cleveland wildlife park. This cemented in my mind my aspirations to work with animals and proved to myself and my parents that despite my age I was fiercely independent and I have been ever since!
The biggest problem facing the veterinary profession:
I think the biggest problem facing the veterinary field in our own country is a lack of understanding and appreciation of veterinary costs that are always under scrutiny. In developing countries there is still a lot of education to be done surrounding animal welfare.
Learn more about WVS and how you can help provide veterinary care to those that need it during the COVID-19 crisis:
Listen to Lulu’s interview on Vet Candy Podcast
