<div><strong>Why &amp; Who Am I?</strong>
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<div>“Hold fast to dreams, for if dreams die, life is a broken-winged bird that cannot fly.” ~ Langston Hughes
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<div>Hey everyone, I hope that you and your loved ones are staying happy, healthy, and hopeful! My name is <strong>Jeremiah Pouncy</strong>, a current <strong>3rd-year Doctor of Veterinary Medicine</strong> (DVM) <strong>student</strong> at <strong>Cornell University’s College of Veterinary Medicine</strong> and a <strong>proud</strong> <strong>alum</strong> of <strong>North Carolina A&amp;T State University</strong>.
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<div>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.
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<div>Over the past year, through <strong>The Veterinary Odyssey</strong>, I’ve had the honor of working in <strong>Mexico</strong> and <strong>South Africa</strong> — alongside <strong>rhinos</strong>, <strong>elephants</strong>, and entire <strong>communities</strong> dedicated to <strong>conservation</strong>. We reached our first campaign goal of over <strong>$15,000</strong>, which helped make those missions possible. On top of that, I was even able to stretch your support and travel to <strong>India</strong> to pursue <strong>bird</strong>, <strong>sloth bear</strong>, and <strong>elephant</strong> conservation this past winter as well!
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<div>Now, we begin <strong>Part II</strong> — a <strong>new chapter</strong> in <strong>Gabon</strong>, <strong>Guatemala</strong>, and <strong>Tanzania</strong> — each destination representing a different <strong>heartbeat</strong> of this <strong>global mission</strong> to <strong>heal our planet</strong>.
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<div>P.S. More Detailed Project Breakdowns Below Sign-Off Message
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<div>1.<strong> Gabon — Chimpanzee Rescue &amp; Gorilla Conservation (November 2025)</strong>
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<div>Nestled deep in the rainforests of <strong>Central Africa</strong>, I’ll be joining a <strong>Chimpanzee Rescue and Gorilla Conservation Project</strong>, helping return long-term captive chimpanzees to protected freedom and supporting local conservation teams safeguarding critically endangered gorillas.
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<div><strong>Budget</strong>: $8,600 (veterinary supplies &amp; materials, conservation fees, travel, lodging)
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<div><strong>Focus Areas</strong>:
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<li>Chimpanzee rehabilitation and behavioral assessment
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<li>Support for gorilla tracking, health checks, and monitoring
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<li>One Health collaboration with local communities
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<li>Disease prevention and environmental protection
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<div>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.
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<div>2. <strong>Guatemala — FARVets Community Medicine Initiative (January 2026)</strong>
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<div>In<strong> January 2026</strong>, I’ll travel with <strong>FARVets,</strong> a phenomenal Cornell-affiliated organization (started by <strong>Dr. Paul Maza</strong>) dedicated to animal welfare and public health outreach. Our clinical team will work with <strong>Fantasma Animal Rescue</strong> in <strong>Santiago, Lake Atitlán </strong>— performing <strong>surgeries</strong>, <strong>wellness exams</strong>, and <strong>preventive care</strong> in <strong>underserved communities</strong>.
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<div><strong>Budget</strong>: $2,600 (program fee, medical supplies, travel &amp; lodging)
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<div><strong>Focus Areas:</strong>
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<li>Free spay/neuter and vaccination clinics
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<li>Community education on zoonotic diseases
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<li>Training local volunteers in basic animal care
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<div>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.
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<div><strong>3. Tanzania — Maasai Community-Based Conservation (March 2026)</strong>
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<div>Our final project brings us to the <strong>Maasai communities of Tanzania</strong>, where veterinary and public health efforts intersect with wildlife conservation. Working alongside <strong>local veterinarians, hospitals</strong>, and <strong>NGOs</strong>, I’ll help vaccinate <strong>dogs</strong> against <strong>rabies</strong> and <strong>distemper</strong>, <strong>diseases</strong> that not only affect domestic animals but also <strong>spill over into wildlife populations</strong> — including the region’s <strong>lion population</strong> in the <strong>Ngorongoro Crater.</strong>
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<div><strong>Budget:</strong> $6,800 (vaccines, equipment, field supplies, travel &amp; lodging)
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<div><strong>Focus Areas:</strong>
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<li>Rabies and distemper vaccine campaign for Maasai dogs
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<li>Wildlife disease surveillance and education initiatives
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<li>Collaboration with One Health field hospitals &amp; the overall community
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<li>Support for coexistence between livestock and predators
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<div>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.
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<div><strong>Campaign Goal: $16,000</strong>
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<div>Your support will help cover things ranging from:
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<li>Veterinary medical supplies and equipment
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<li>Airfare to &amp; lodging in Gabon, Guatemala, and Tanzania
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<li>Program fees, field supplies, and equipment
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<li>Vaccines and medications for outreach clinics
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<li>Educational resources and One Health materials
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<div><strong>Your Role &amp; Impact</strong>
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<div>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.
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<div>Every contribution — no matter the size — becomes part of a movement to heal lives and protect our planet.
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<div><strong> Updates &amp; Documentation</strong>
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<div>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.
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<div>Additionally, just like my last Veterinary Odyssey, I will continue to keep everyone updated on any pertinent program or travel changes!
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<div>You can follow along through all socials, and see a ton of behind the scenes content:
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<div><a href="https://www.instagram.com/thrujeremiahseyes/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Instagram</a> | <a href="https://www.linkedin.com/in/jeremiah-pouncy-7240391a4/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">LinkedIn</a> | <a href="https://www.youtube.com/@thrujeremiahseyes" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">YouTube</a> | <a href="https://www.tiktok.com/@thrujeremiahseyes" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">TikTok</a> | <a href="https://www.jeremiahapouncy.com/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Website</a>
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<div>Final Note
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<div>Thank you for reading, sharing, and supporting this dream. As Hughes wrote —
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<div>“Hold fast to dreams,
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<div>For if dreams die,
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<div>Life is a broken-winged bird that cannot fly.”
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<div>Your generosity fuels this flight, and together, we’re helping the world soar again. :)
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<div>~ Jeremiah A. Pouncy
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<div>Cornell University College of Veterinary Medicine
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<div>Veterinary Odyssey: Part II
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<div>Detailed Project Insights
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<div>1. Chimpanzee Rescue &amp; Gorilla Conservation (Gabon) — November 2025
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<div>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.
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<div>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.
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<div>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.
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<div>2. FARVets Community Veterinary Medicine at Lake Atitlán (Guatemala) — January 2026
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<div>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.
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<div>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.
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<div>3. Maasai Community Conservation + Rabies &amp; Distemper Prevention (Tanzania) — March 2026
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<div>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.
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<div>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.
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<div>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.
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Renee McDougall

Emily Aston

James Green

Anonymous

Anna Foster

Dr. Monique Y. Wells

DVM Mentor

Cornell University Dean's Leaders Program: Grant

Bagenda Benard

Sherri Saddler

Joe Owens

Healing Our Planet — The Veterinary Odyssey Pt. II

Healing Our Planet — The Veterinary Odyssey Pt. II

Still $2,926 to go. Help us build momentum.