Why & Who Am I?

“Hold fast to dreams, for if dreams die, life is a broken-winged bird that cannot fly.” ~ Langston Hughes

Hey everyone, I hope that you and your loved ones are staying happy, healthy, and hopeful! My name is Jeremiah Pouncy, a current 3rd-year Doctor of Veterinary Medicine (DVM) student at Cornell University’s College of Veterinary Medicine and a proud alum of North Carolina A&T State University.

Langston Hughes’ words continue to guide me — reminding me that our dreams are more than ambitions; they are responsibilities. My dream has always been to use veterinary medicine as a bridge to connect wildlife and people… science and compassion… hope and healing.

Over the past year, through The Veterinary Odyssey, I’ve had the honor of working in Mexico and South Africa — alongside rhinos, elephants, and entire communities dedicated to conservation. We reached our first campaign goal of over $15,000, which helped make those missions possible. On top of that, I was even able to stretch your support and travel to India to pursue bird, sloth bear, and elephant conservation this past winter as well!

Now, we begin Part II — a new chapter in Gabon, Guatemala, and Tanzania — each destination representing a different heartbeat of this global mission to heal our planet.

P.S. More Detailed Project Breakdowns Below Sign-Off Message

1. Gabon — Chimpanzee Rescue & Gorilla Conservation (November 2025)

Nestled deep in the rainforests of Central Africa, I’ll be joining a Chimpanzee Rescue and Gorilla Conservation Project, helping return long-term captive chimpanzees to protected freedom and supporting local conservation teams safeguarding critically endangered gorillas.

Budget: $8,600 (veterinary supplies & materials, conservation fees, travel, lodging)

Focus Areas:

On top of all of this, we’ll be empowering communities to coexist with nature, where we not only protect ecosystems but also preserve the very soul of the forest.

2. Guatemala — FARVets Community Medicine Initiative (January 2026)

In January 2026, I’ll travel with FARVets, a phenomenal Cornell-affiliated organization (started by Dr. Paul Maza) dedicated to animal welfare and public health outreach. Our clinical team will work with Fantasma Animal Rescue in Santiago, Lake Atitlán — performing surgeries, wellness exams, and preventive care in underserved communities.

Budget: $2,600 (program fee, medical supplies, travel & lodging)

Focus Areas:

For me, it’s these trips that remind me that veterinary medicine is ultimately about service at the end of the day. Genuinely, every pet that we end up healing strengthens the bond between families and their animals, reducing suffering and improving public health.

3. Tanzania — Maasai Community-Based Conservation (March 2026)

Our final project brings us to the Maasai communities of Tanzania, where veterinary and public health efforts intersect with wildlife conservation. Working alongside local veterinarians, hospitals, and NGOs, I’ll help vaccinate dogs against rabies and distemper, diseases that not only affect domestic animals but also spill over into wildlife populations — including the region’s lion population in the Ngorongoro Crater.

Budget: $6,800 (vaccines, equipment, field supplies, travel & lodging)

Focus Areas:

This project is about the real protection of both people and predators. Rabies prevention saves human lives; distemper prevention saves lions. Each vaccinated dog is a victory for both species.

Campaign Goal: $16,000

Your support will help cover things ranging from:

Your Role & Impact

You’re standing beside every community that learns, every animal that heals, and every ecosystem that breathes easier. That’s why we need you… why our world needs you.

Every contribution — no matter the size — becomes part of a movement to heal lives and protect our planet.

Updates & Documentation

I’ll share photos, videos, and stories from every stage of this Odyssey — from the jungles of Gabon to the mountains of Guatemala and the savannas of Tanzania. You’ll see firsthand the impact your support is creating, and together, we’ll celebrate the victories along the way.

Additionally, just like my last Veterinary Odyssey, I will continue to keep everyone updated on any pertinent program or travel changes!

You can follow along through all socials, and see a ton of behind the scenes content:

Instagram | LinkedIn | YouTube | TikTok | Website

Final Note

Thank you for reading, sharing, and supporting this dream. As Hughes wrote —

“Hold fast to dreams,

For if dreams die,

Life is a broken-winged bird that cannot fly.”

Your generosity fuels this flight, and together, we’re helping the world soar again. :)

~ Jeremiah A. Pouncy

Cornell University College of Veterinary Medicine

Veterinary Odyssey: Part II

Detailed Project Insights

1. Chimpanzee Rescue & Gorilla Conservation (Gabon) — November 2025

Here, I’ll be stepping into the heart of Gabon’s rainforests, where conservationists are rewriting the future for some of the world’s most intelligent and endangered species. My work will involve assisting in the rehabilitation of chimpanzees rescued from captivity, as well as supporting gorilla health monitoring and community-led forest protection initiatives.

This mission sits at the crossroads of wildlife medicine, ethics, and ecology. Many of these chimpanzees have spent years in confinement — some as pets, others rescued from the illegal wildlife trade. Helping them rediscover natural behavior through social rehabilitation and health care represents a triumph of both veterinary science and empathy.

Beyond clinical work, I’ll also participate in One Health projects, bridging animal, environmental, and human health in nearby communities. This means not only treating animals but also engaging in disease prevention, public health education, and capacity-building for local rangers and caretakers. I aim to return with firsthand insights on managing human–wildlife conflict, rehabilitation medicine, and the intricate role veterinarians play in restoring species on the brink.

2. FARVets Community Veterinary Medicine at Lake Atitlán (Guatemala) — January 2026

In the mountain town of Santiago Atitlán, Guatemala, I’ll be part of a Cornell-led team partnering with Fantasma Animal Rescue to deliver hands-on veterinary outreach to underserved communities. Here, veterinary medicine meets human compassion — providing life-changing services to families who have never had access to care for their pets.

Our work will focus on spay/neuter surgery, preventive medicine, and parasite control, all while educating pet owners about zoonotic disease prevention and animal welfare. Beyond the clinic, I’ll collaborate with local animal advocates to create sustainable, community-led solutions that continue long after we leave. These are cross-cultural collaborations where we will make it a point to continue building empathy and strengthening veterinary adaptability in real-world environments.

3. Maasai Community Conservation + Rabies & Distemper Prevention (Tanzania) — March 2026

The final chapter of this year’s Odyssey takes place in Tanzania, among the Maasai communities near the Ngorongoro Crater. This is where conservation medicine meets cultural heritage, and where the health of domestic dogs directly impacts both human lives and the survival of Africa’s great predators.

Working alongside veterinarians, hospitals, and wildlife organizations, I’ll participate in mass vaccination campaigns targeting rabies and distemper — two diseases with devastating consequences. Rabies is a leading cause of preventable human deaths in the region, while distemper poses a rising threat to lions and other carnivores within the Crater ecosystem.

Our team will also focus on disease surveillance, education programs, and developing preventive strategies for coexistence between livestock and wildlife. I’m particularly interested in the intersection of these efforts with One Health frameworks, where the boundaries between animal and human medicine blur in service of a shared ecosystem.