Alright – so today we’ve got the honor of introducing you to Dr. Jenn Roedig. We think you’ll enjoy our conversation, we’ve shared it below.

Dr. Jenn, thanks for taking the time to share your stories with us today Was there a defining moment in your professional career? A moment that changed the trajectory of your career?

I think the biggest defining moment for me in my professional career was when the pandemic happened. It really put a lot into perspective for me – how short life was and that it was too short to do anything less than what set my heart and soul on fire, that we weren’t promised tomorrow, how precious time was, feeling like there had to be more to life than what I was doing, that I was meant to do more, wanting to do work that I was passionate about, that I was tired of sleepwalking through life and done just going through the motions, that I was tired of working for someone else and wanted both freedom and flexibility when it came to the work that I was doing. I did a lot of soul searching and embarked on a journey of self-discovery. It started with an idea in my head and I knew that the only way I was going to increase my chances of that actually happening was to start writing stuff down so I bought a notebook and just started writing. Anything and everything that popped into my head about the business and the life that I wanted to create.

Dr. Jenn, before we move on to more of these sorts of questions, can you take some time to bring our readers up to speed on you and what you do?

I’ve known that I wanted to be a veterinarian ever since I was 8 years old. I don’t remember a specific moment or event that happened that lead me to that decision, I just kind of knew that’s what I wanted to do with my life. The road to make that dream a reality wasn’t always easy but the joy that I felt when I got my acceptance letter made all of the ups, downs, twists, and turns worth it.

I’ll never forget the day that I learned about hospice and palliative care for pets. It was the first time since starting veterinary school that I felt like I had found my niche. I was immediately drawn to that work and knew deep within my soul that that is what I was meant to do. And as I began my career, I only felt that passion deepen and the calling to do that work grow stronger. When I started working with people facing aging and end of life with their pets, what I found was I really enjoyed being able to provide them with the emotional support they so desperately needed during one of the most difficult times they’ll ever face as a pet owner. And when they had that support, it seemed to make that time just a little bit easier for them.

I know that aging and end of life can feel scary, uncertain, overwhelming, lonely, and downright hard. I never want anyone to feel like they have to go through this alone. That’s why I started Sage Paws, to give those who are struggling with an aging pet a safe, compassionate, and empathetic space to openly express fears, desires, goals, and concerns as well as ask questions without fear of being judged.

If I can make this time just a little bit easier, a little less scary, relieve the guilt you undoubtedly feel, and affirm you’re making the absolute best decision, then I know I have done my job; that’s why I do what I do. My hope in working together is that you feel empowered and at peace with your decisions. To me there truly is no greater honor or privilege then to get to walk side by side with you every step of the way.

If you could go back, would you choose the same profession, specialty, etc.?

If I could go back, I don’t think that I would choose the same profession. Don’t get me wrong, I don’t regret going to veterinary school one bit and am so thankful for the doors and avenues it has opened for me. But the cost and resulting six figures’ worth of debt is enough for me to think twice about going back and doing it all over again. If I could go back, I would probably pursue life coaching a lot sooner than I did.

Putting training and knowledge aside, what else do you think really matters in terms of succeeding in your field?

Aside from the training/knowledge, I think that finding a good therapist and/or life coach would be most helpful for succeeding in veterinary medicine because we can deal with a lot of heavy, emotionally taxing stuff on a day to day basis that needs to be processed and worked through. This profession is also experiencing a mental health crisis with both burnout and the suicide rate at an all time high.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.sagepaws.com/
• Instagram: @_sage_paws