Bringing It to the Next Level

Me, Karl, Soo, Dr. Grace and Dr. Law posing for a group photo after the filming.

On this episode of Meet The Business Owners, I had the opportunity to meet with Dr. Grace, an experienced veterinarian and founder of J-Avenue Veterinary Clinic located in Cheras, Selangor. Dr. Grace had taken a liking to medicine, biology and just helping others in general since young. However, the pivotal event that sparked her interest and aspiration to be a veterinarian was when her grandfather took an ill dog home which promptly led to the discovery of her ambition. It is not until Form 6 when she was formally introduced to Veterinary Medicine Course in Universiti Putra Malaysia by a friend who was undertaking the said course from the faculty. Back in the days, the people that knew of the course's existence were not many nor were there a high demand for it but her family was very supportive of her decision.

Karl and Dr. Grace having a small talk before the cameras start rolling.

Upon graduation, she worked in a small animal clinic for 7 years which helped her to explore her career and gain more experience. As time passes, she felt that she was getting too comfortable in her work and wanted to take up new challenges. Dr. Grace mentioned that her employer and colleagues at the time were flexible, nice and they played some roles in encouraging her to get out of her comfort zone to open her very own veterinary clinic. The decision was followed by even more decisions to make, ranging from finding a new place to searching for funds. When she settled down, she had to work all year long without rest to meet the demand as she was the only veterinarian, helped by an assistant in the clinic.

It is hectic and tiring to start a business, taking into consideration that one needs to seek a strategic place, get the needed funding and further deal with extreme working hours. Dr. Grace worked hard to overcome these obstacles while receiving strong support from her family and friends. She also shared that we just have to be firm with what we want to do and persevere until your hard work has paid off or until the goal is achieved. On that note, Dr. Grace has done and showed that one should not stop at any obstacles encountered in the journey because they are meant for one to learn, overcome and adapt to reach better accomplishments.

Dr. Grace listening and interpreting Karl's question during the discussion of Malaysia's veterinary industry.

In the discussion of responsible pet ownership, Dr. Grace mentioned that other than providing the basic necessities for your pets, monitoring their medical health is also crucial. There are several false ideas surrounding vaccinations that repelled a number of pet owners from vaccinating their pets such as inducing multiple harmful side effects or even tumour. She assures that these inaccurate concerns were put to rest and vaccinations give furry friends many benefits, making it the best fit for protection against viruses and certain diseases. She emphasises that vaccinations definitely need to be encouraged, notably rabies vaccination because rabies infection is not just limited to dogs but all animals that bite and considering that Malaysia already had several cases of rabies across the nation.

Karl and Dr. Grace in a deep discussion of animal wellbeing and the cumulative effort by Malaysian veterinarians.

Fortunately, the situation is slowly but surely improving as younger generations are learning and more keen on bringing their pets to the vets for medical checkup and vaccinations. Dr. Grace thinks that people who are oblivious on these cannot be blamed since they are not exposed to such education and therefore lacking specific knowledge, resulting in unintentional animal abuse sometimes. Hence, she will usually talk more during a customer's first consultation and coax their concerns as she lay out all the options available for them to pick the one with the best outcome for both the pet and the owner. The same applies to the kind-hearted souls who bring in strays to seek medical treatment because post procedure consequences should be well thought out.

A photo of Dr. Grace and Karl relaying thanks near the ending of the recording.

When inquired on how the public can be more informed and educated on animal welfare, Dr. Grace reckoned that the increasing number of movies and dramas involving animals and veterinarians are sending out the right messages, enhancing the public's knowledge on animal wellbeing. This is significant and an influential way to educate the public as the medical health of pets should not be neglected. With that said, Dr. Grace took this opportunity and stressed on the importance of neutering and spaying as it is helpful beyond minimising unwanted offspring. This especially applies to the strays or homeless furkids where vets all around Malaysia are cumulatively putting in their best effort to help them by spaying and neutering. Animals that went through the procedure will also enjoy better health benefits as they do not need to experience health-straining incidents such as labour.

Karl and Dr. Grace posing in a friendly handshake upon the completion of recording.

As veterinary courses gain popularity, more veterinary clinics are mushrooming in Malaysia and the industry continues to bloom with at least three animal hospitals that run 24 hours a day. Dr. Grace advises that vet graduates should obtain as much experience as possible before starting their own clinic. She also highlighted that it is essential for vets to be friends and help each other in order to bring Malaysia's vet industry to the next level, competing shoulder to shoulder with other developed countries. She thinks that the future of local vet industry has high potential to grow even bigger than it is now with ample support from the government, particularly on the engaging relationship between vets and the government to ensure the best medicine for the animals are available locally.

Through endless perseverance, boundless dedication and immeasurable passion, Dr. Grace proved that nothing is impossible when you put all your heart to it. She achieved her dreams through hard work, accompanied by great support and encouragement from the loved ones around her. Thank you so much for taking out your time to share your inspiring stories and insights in both personal and professional aspects.

Remember to check out the full video of Dr. Grace sharing her experiences, insights and views on personal principles, responsible pet ownership, local vet industry and more on our YouTube Channel, Kreloses!