Ask any veterinarian what the major threat to the veterinary industry is, and they’ll mostly say the same thing. There is a very high burnout rate in veterinarians and their staff, and an unusually high number of suicides compared to other industries.

Dr. Zay is one of many elite vets in the world looking to change that statistic. Her company, Bond Vet, is reinvisioning how a clinic should be run from the ground up. This means promoting an environment that is as people friendly as it is pet friendly, and focusing on the mental health and wellbeing of the staff. That’s why they were one of the first veterinary clinics providing veterinary technicians with a livable wage plus they just announced that they will be offering their team 100% paid healthcare with the intent of fostering more sustainability and longevity in the veterinary field.

The result is rave reviews from customers to journals as large as the New York Times. Bond Vet has a remarkable way of bringing pets and people together, and they’re working hard to show that a veterinary clinic does not have to burn out and destroy its staff.

Dr. Zay started down her path to becoming Bond Vet’s Chief Veterinary Officer the way most kids do—by dreaming of it from a very young age. She always knew in her heart that working with animals was something she wanted to do.

Her mother, seeing that spark still alive and well in her now 15 year old daughter, encouraged Dr. Zay to volunteer at a vet clinic. Her very first job was scooping poop over the holidays, but it didn’t deter her from her goal. She loved every moment of animal care, even the smellier parts.

That passion for animals is hard to discourage in her heart. If she had to leave the veterinary industry and pick a different career, she’d probably be a marine biologist instead—but her job would probably be very like the one she has today, helping animals maximize their potential at life.

Although Dr. Zay works very hard to minimize the stress on her staff, whether that means taking an extra shift or supporting them in their work, days at the clinic can still be stressful. After a stressful work day, Dr. Zay relaxes by listening to a podcast while taking a walk, doing yoga, or riding on her Peloton.

Thanks to Dr. Zay’s unique view on the vet industry, Bond Vet is thriving. Dr. Zay hopes to take it farther over the next 5 years, growing the business and showing the rest of the vet industry that it’s possible to have a clinic without the depression and burnout often associated with it.

Her clinic is an example of how it can be done, so others can see the success of a business that supports the staff as well as the pets—and also just how much more the animals benefit when the team is happy, focused, and giving their best.

The vet industry doesn’t have to have a high suicide rate or so much burnout. By taking good care of staff members and making sure they have what they need, be it validation or better equipment, it’s possible to make a place that keeps critical veterinary staff in good mental health all day long.