How Dr. Callie Harris lets her confidence shine
Many veterinarians are well known for their loving care of animals, or skill with wildlife. Few have quite reached the celebrity status of Dr. Callie Harris, however. This amazing woman is a former emergency vet, but she is also a Veterinary Communications Manager at a large pet food company, and a judge on the grooming show Pooch Perfect.
Although now her path has clearly rewarded her, it wasn’t so obvious in college. She started out a biology major, because she knew she wanted to graduate in the sciences and thought she might go into med school.
A friend of hers made a life changing statement while she was in college. Dr. Callie’s friend pointed out just how much she loves animals, and asked why she wasn’t becoming a vet herself?
This comment must have hit home, because Dr. Callie changed her major to Pre-Vet the next day. It’s a decision that often gets questioned by other people—she’s usually the only black vet they’ve ever met—but it’s one she has never regretted.
Today, Dr. Callie’s focus is less on providing urgent care to ER patients, and more on the nutrition aspect of pet’s lives. She recommends foods based on the life stages of pets, and also whether they are small breed or large breed. These may seem like small differences, but by paying attention to these small differences among dogs you can help dogs live a healthier life.
Purina is a big part of Dr. Callie’s life, but it’s not the only part. Her role as a judge on “Pooch Perfect” has also helped launch her into fame. Dr. Callie’s favorite part of the show has been seeing dogs who are actually happy. Although being a vet is rewarding, most of the dogs going into a critical care situation aren’t feeling so hot.
Seeing a dog who is perfectly healthy and enjoying the attention being lavished on him is something she can appreciate all on her own. The groomers on the show also have lovely personalities, and she deeply enjoyed and bonded with each of them.
In fact, one of the hardest parts of the show was distancing herself from the kind people who were working so hard with the animals to look at the workmanship itself to decide who is the best. The show is by far one of the most entertaining things she has been part of, and one she thinks everyone else will enjoy as well.
Dr. Callie has become a true star in the veterinarian field. She continues to grow and develop in new ways every day. The most important part of her work isn’t that she is part of one of the best selling dog food brands in the world, or a judge on a hit TV show, but that she loves going to work each and every day. She loves helping animals, and using her skills to make their lives better in some way.
Pets are her passion, and being able to work with them is a true dream come true.