Hello everyone,

My name is Ryan, and I am a registered veterinary technician (RVT) currently living in Ontario.

To make a long story, a bit shorter, I became a vet technician several years ago, when I decided to go back to school. After rescuing my dog Misty (going on 11 1/2 years old) when I was younger, she truthfully saved my life…giving me purpose, and something to focus on and strive for. I have always wanted to give back to that feeling and purpose. So I made a difficult decision to change the course of my life, go back to school, and enter the veterinary profession.

First off, it was not easy to go back to school. I was working full time, and needed to take high school classes to get the proper prerequisites needed to become an RVT. So I spent 2 years taking online classes, learning everything from biology to chemistry and math. Being a former theatre and English major, this was a whole different game I was playing.

Fast forward and I was accepted and graduated from the University of Guelph’s Ridgetown campus, and passed my registration test, and became a registered tech.

The last few years I have spent in the world of general practice, as well as emergency and referral medicine.

The last few months have been difficult; I have struggled with my own mental health, as well as compassion fatigue from the cases and workload within the industry. Don’t get me wrong, this is what I was meant to do with my life, and I have SO MUCH compassion for my patients, but I was never taking the time for ME.

Now I have an amazing opportunity; I’ve been accepted as an ICU technician at the Atlantic Veterinary College in Charlottetown, PEI. My only problem is the funds to get there. As most of us know, the economy isn’t the greatest, and everything is expensive. So moving across several provinces is not something I can accomplish alone.

I have tried to secure loans and lines of credit, but with my own debt do to expenses and being medically off work for several months, it looks like these will fall through as well.

If I can raise enough funds, Charlie and I will be moving to PEI, and we can secure a down payment on an apartment, and having the coverage to move what we own across the country.

I need your help. I have people that I have relied on for far too long; everyone from my parents and family, to my best friends have been there to support me financially, emotionally, and seen me through some dark times. But I refuse to give up.

This is my dream, and what I was meant to do. I know this deep down in my soul; I love caring for animals, they are apart of not only my family but many others. These are my kids, my girls. And I want what’s best for them and me.

Thanks.