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Dogs, Fear and Honest Opinions — with Ify · Under The Fur

• speaker-0: Welcome back to Under the Fur, where we're going to take a slightly different tack today. And I actually have someone who does not work in the veterinary industry. Neither does she own pets, nor maybe want to be around them. Welcome, Ify. And I'm not quite sure how I convinced you to come and do this podcast for me. Once this is wrapped up. a little bit of peer pressure, I believe. So, Ify, we've known each other quite a while now. We have. I would say verging on 20 years. speaker-1: That tells everyone how old I am. Thank you. speaker-0: rewind that. Let's just say 10 years. Yeah. A little while, a little while. And we met playing basketball. The days speaker-1: Yes we did. speaker-0: when our knees didn't hurt. yeah. Yeah. Yeah. It's like a beats out of rhythm for you as you walk up the stairs. speaker-1: Yeah. speaker-0: Yeah. And, well, let's firstly, let's introduce you. Who is Ify? speaker-1: Well, yeah, basketball. I played for years at uni. I think we met like uni time, but we didn't obviously go to the same uni. played in Bradford, for those of you that know or don't know, rather. lots of tournaments over the bank holiday weekend. Drinking, playing, more drinking. It w it was painful, but it was great fun. Great fun. And yeah, so I guess I'm in Technically tech mobile. I I work in comms, which basically is a grown up version of telling people what's going on, which is funny because once you know me, you're like, h how are you in comms? I can't spell, I can barely read and write, so speaker-0: But you are good at telling people what to do. I'm going to say that. 100%. Yeah. You need telling them what to do. speaker-1: Exactly. That's that's where I shine. But yeah, so I've been in tech for wow. Yeah, twenty years. It has been that long. And I don't know, I've guess I've just been around mobile phones for ever since they they came into being. my god, I really am that old. It's speaker-0: Yes. speaker-1: mobile phones are are as old as how long a yeah. Yeah, I'm all I'm older than mobile phones, I'm older than Google, I'm older than a lot of moving speaker-0: Email. speaker-1: swiftly on. But yeah, and yeah, I guess we've just sort of known each other outside the basketball. I think we did dolphins together, didn't we? Dan in hand speaker-0: We did that team as speaker-1: string out the basketball until the body just gave up. speaker-0: Yes. speaker-1: And then yeah, I've just been hanging around eating your food ever since. speaker-0: So good times, good times. And so the reason that I asked you, stroke told you that you were coming on my podcast is you are absolutely terrified of pets. animals. speaker-1: Right, so obviously I enjoy my animals when they are on a plate in barbecue stores, but sorry, it's a it's a vet podcast. So the the thing is this I had I'll tell you a story. So when I was a kid, I was staying with my cousins and they had me overnight, my parents were away, whatever, and they thought it was a good idea to let me watch the original Omen with Gregory Peck. Right, nineteen seventy-four, whatever the original. None of that remix with Julius Styles and Lee Schreiber, none. OG Omen. And there is a scene in there where Damien gets a Doberman, you know, and the dog's not very nice. And obviously, everything else that happens in the movie, very horrific for a I don't know, six-year-old, yeah. Not a good idea. So obviously, when a speaker-0: Six years old. speaker-1: I was young. They I I say they let me, you know? Yeah. So you know, bit of a nightmare, whatever. The next day, went to market and in town there was a Doberman-looking dog who got excited, saw me, and did what dogs do. Came running at me, barking. I might have soiled myself, I don't remember, but I was terrified. And ever since then, my Affinity to pets, it's just not been there. But what was interesting was this was me growing up in Nigeria, by the way. So we had a dog and we had a cat. Yeah. Now, don't know about the rest of you Nigerians, but when you have a pet in Nigeria, they have a function. The dog was a guard dog, the speaker-0: Yes. speaker-1: cat was there for catching mice. Yes. The dog was called dog. Guess what the cat was called? speaker-0: I'm not going to go with fluffy. No. speaker-1: So Dog Dog speaker-0: And they had their jobs. That quiet film where she calls the boy boy and the girl, the Yes. Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. speaker-1: the blind one. speaker-0: Yeah. Cause if you see you get taken away. speaker-1: Yeah. So yeah, dog has a function. Dog dog. speaker-0: cat cat. Okay. So my cats are called England or Wales. I know. speaker-1: I know. And I'm I'm glad they don't brush past me as I'm sitting there because that's what makes me jump. Yeah. So the the the dog did what it needed to do, the cat did what it needed to do, but we weren't very speaker-0: petty kids. speaker-1: You know, so when I came to this country and I see you people, yes. speaker-0: You people. speaker-1: You're you're petting your dogs, they're sitting inside, licking your face, licking your hat, and was a lot. But yeah, speaker-0: Yes. speaker-1: ever since then I've just it's been difficult to get close to an animal. however, over the years, what I've learned is that once The d and it's usually a dog because cats are bougie. Literally. They speaker-0: A bit more aloof. speaker-1: like carry on. Yeah. But with dogs, once they settle, once they get past the ooh, you're in you're a new human. I haven't seen you before. Once they get past all of that and they chill, I then relax to a certain degree. Yeah, 'cause you got a wolf. I was never gonna be stroking your wolf. Right. But Like when I met my partner, she lived in a house with I think it's one of those bulldogs, the flat nosed Yeah, Alfie was speaker-0: A French bulldog. Yeah. Yeah. I thought there was a Jack Russell there. No, not that one. All right. speaker-1: No, not that no French. Yeah. And literally speaker-0: Really inoffensive. Yeah. speaker-1: it it took us about a year to where Alfie knew there's no licking, there's no we don't do bodily fluids. I don't give I don't give him I don't give him why he doesn't give me We're speaker-0: Yes! speaker-1: not close like that, right? So he went away slubbered and he came back, right? Yes. So he he he understood to the point where I would be sat on the sofa, like if I'm work if I was working from hers, on the sofa, on the laptop. He comes, he sits on the sofa, he gets a stroke. We're good. That is speaker-0: How? You stroked him. yeah, yeah, And how did you enjoy it? speaker-1: Yeah, th that's what I'm saying. It would I mean it as in as enjoyable as straight for the dog speaker-0: It's therapeutic. speaker-1: No the speaker-0: But when he sat next to you, you were okay and something in you said, pet this dog. speaker-1: Yes. I mean I I think what it was is I can see the joy that people get from pets. I never understood it growing up because for us we didn't have pets. We had don't want to say service animals, but we had animals that provided a service. Technically a service animal, but you know what I mean. Yeah. Yeah. So we had animals that did a job. Whereas especially in this country. Pets animals that are pets are more than a surface animal. And I think over time I've understood that. Yes. I mean speaker-0: They're very much family members. speaker-1: Yeah. It slowly dawning on me kind of thing. But over time, especially with people who I've known and then I've been around their animals, you know, the way they interact, I get it. Yeah. Could I be a person that stops my life for an animal? Not so much. So could I get a pet now? No, because I'm never in the country. So Part of the consideration would be, okay, we'd have to like is it Kennel the dog or something? Yeah. Yeah. Doggy day Kerol. speaker-0: Give it to your very good friend that's a vet that may possibly look after you. speaker-1: That is true. That is always top choice. But yeah, I think, you know, part of it is, cause like it's funny, I I I work with a f a friend of mine. She's got a couple of little little dogs and randomly, what you call it, Eurostar with doing a sale. I'm in the group, guys, who wants to go to Amsterdam for a day? Yeah. Everyone, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah. I'm like, Los? She's like, I d I I don't know, cause speaker-0: the speaker-1: I gotta I gotta get some you know, I gotta get the dogs covered and I'm like, huh. I don't know if I'm not selfish enough to do that. I think that's the way, kinda thing. speaker-0: Kind of same if you have kids, it turns out you can't just drop them off. definitely found it easier to get my dogs looked after than my kids. speaker-1: mean, you know, I don't think anyone frowns when you lock up a dog in a cage speaker-0: Shit. speaker-1: Not saying that I've locked up children in cages, but I believe it is frowned on. speaker-0: I've actually locked my son up in a cage. But in my defense, he wanted to go in there. And I have a veterinary clinic that has a cage. fun here. And then got himself locked in when I wasn't there. So that was fun. speaker-1: No. speaker-0: So I remember when you told me that you were fearful of dogs, that I absolutely did not believe you because it's to me, that's a really foreign concept. Well, a little fear. thought, okay, there's a little fear. And I thought she's not serious. So I invited you around and I just let my two Akitas free to run up to you. And I thought, that's okay. She'll be a little scared, but she'll be fine. Turns out that the girl in particular could sense fear. And she chased you down the road, barking her head off, having the time of her life. She barked and you ran. speaker-1: And that's the thing. speaker-0: If he wasn't joking, she is terrified of dogs. And I don't know what it is, but my dogs bark at you. speaker-1: I mean, I don't want to play the race card, but yeah, your dogs were not nice. and they bark at him. They bark at him. speaker-0: My husband is speaker-1: And I think I mean everyone says to me, you know, animals smell fear. And you know what? I I totally believe that they do. Obviously, I get that they can't understand intentions. And I think for me, the worst thing an animal owner can do is, you know, like I'm walking the, you know, running in the park or whatever, their dog's off leash. The dog sees someone running, they're like, ooh, run, run, fine. speaker-0: This is f***ing right? speaker-1: And I totally appreciate that from the dog's point of view. Yeah. The worst thing an at that owner can say to me, well, no, no, it's okay. Fluffy's friendly. It doesn't, it you know, it doesn't mean any harm, right? And I stop back up, and I'm like, I need you to put your dog on the leash. When they finally get the dog, I looked them straight in the eye. I d I had this issue with the guy. I'd go into work early and we're in like a an in not quite an industrial park, but like we're off a high street kind of thing. So loads of green, nice path. I thought, yeah, park up the car, go for a run, shower, go to work. Guy's running with his dog. Fair play. I pause, you know, bounce on the spot, and I'm like, I need you to get your dog. no, no, he's fine. Yes. But I'm not speaker-0: But I'm not, yes. speaker-1: and again, he's looked at me like, I don't understand what you mean that you don't like dogs. And again, I get it. It's a it's a you I say it's a UK thing. A lot of people in the UK again, because of the way you have I say you the country has always had pets and people have always grown up with animals. You cannot fathom non animal loving people. speaker-0: Yes, it's really difficult. I really didn't believe you. If speaker-1: I know, I know, a hundred per and this is the thing too it speaker-0: you say it. speaker-1: You know, it sounds it sounds ludicrous. And the thing is, right, it's not just dogs. I went to Australia with my partner to see her side of the family. They took us to a kangaroo park. Yeah, yeah. Great great five. Yeah. at this kangaroo park, they give you feed. Yeah. speaker-0: Yep. speaker-1: And you know, shake it, they come running, put out your hand, right? When I there is a picture of me looking like I'm having a stroke. Because my body would not allow me to physically extend my hand with the feed so that the kangaroo could lick it off and eat it. Because obviously if I offer you food, you're gonna pick it up with your hand. I don't come anywhere near your mouth. Yeah. Yeah. A kangaroo, no opposable thumb. So they're they're licking it out of my hand. Yeah. And it's my actual hand. So it's not even like a gloved hand. speaker-0: Does that count in exchange of bodily fluids? speaker-1: It does count. It does count as an exchange. speaker-0: That's crossed a boundary for you. speaker-1: And that's the thing. And it's also that feel of a of a wet tongue. Yeah. I mean, you know, the I I I I like wet tongues but not from a kangaroo. speaker-0: I'm saying nothing! speaker-1: It's just that feeling, right? And when I say literally, my my elbow locked into my body, and my partner was looking at me like, just stretch out your hand. And I'm like, if I could like trade minds with you for 10 seconds so that you could be in my body feeling speaker-0: Yes. speaker-1: how locked my elbow was, and how I could not extend my hand because I could see the kangaroo. And the kangaroo was going to lick my hand to get that food, and it was just fearful. Wow. And I mean, I don't know if can the thing is, I didn't even Google, do kangaroos bite? I mean, I'm assuming any animal Yes, exactly. Yeah. speaker-0: seen them kick. speaker-1: Right? I'm assuming any animal with teeth that eats food can bite. But it was just that fear of an animal getting friendly with me. Yes. I I couldn't do it. And then speaker-0: I don't think in my entire life I've ever felt that level of fear. So we're like frozen fear. speaker-1: Frozen fear. speaker-0: And I was once stalked by a lion and I still don't believe I've had that level of fear. speaker-1: I mean, and this is the thing. If you I've been on safari, obviously I'm in the truck, so I'm re safe. speaker-0: to be speaker-1: Yeah. So I can look at an animal from a distance, yeah. And most animals, when they're alive, beautiful, not a problem. It's when they come close to me, the the brushing against the leg, especially when I don't see them. Yeah. It's that's speaker-0: Yes. speaker-1: skiddity to skittity skibbity. Yeah like a Gen Z. But it it's that skittish that's a word I was I know we are not there you I told you I work in colours it's that skittish feeling right it's literally like yeah get one of these touch someone and you know that sort of ooh I just felt something speaker-0: So if I bring the dog that's outside in... speaker-1: Not gonna lie, yeah. We don't want to trash the studio. So we're gonna leave the dog outside and we're gonna work on why the thought of the dog near me terrifies me. But the iron the irony is, right? If you brought the dog in and the dog was settled, I'd be speaker-0: You've got better. This I'll say about you. Like you couldn't be near my dogs and to be fair to you, I do have absolute beasts of dogs. And I think this one that I've got now is actually upsized. And if he was at my house this weekend and you were great, I did obviously call her away from you a few times. Then they were a couple of Vanessa. speaker-1: Come on. speaker-0: But you were great. You sat and you were fine. And she, she came by you and you were, you were beautiful, but you were okay. speaker-1: If I can see her and know where she's going, we're good. My other well, I say my other fear, the worry was obviously I've got a sausage in my hand. speaker-0: Yeah speaker-1: And obviously dogs see food and sometimes, you know, they get excited. They think, Ooh, I I I get if I beg, I get it, right? So they either do it on the floor or they do that jumpy on my god. Yeah. Right. I promise you, I would have absolutely crapped myself if your dog decided, you know what? Yeah. I'm gonna I'm gonna beg on her chest. speaker-0: Yeah. Yeah. I mean, to be fair, that's a level. She's not allowed to do that. She's way too big, but, that is a level that I could understand for you because having a big dog on your chest and their mouth really close. that's what I understand. Yeah. Yeah. They're frozen in fear. I'm just, I just honestly don't think, well, I am very fortunate, but well also autistic. So that helps. don't feel that level. speaker-1: I mean you're a vet, if you were scared of animals you'd have a speaker-0: A level of fear of anything. I once plummeted a plane to the, almost to the ground. That was a little scary. I can imagine. speaker-1: Magic. speaker-0: Yeah. We, when you learn how to fly planes, speaker-1: Yes. speaker-0: have to practice stalling an aeroplane. So that means you cut the engine. You free fall. Well, you just have no control because it's flapping around with no power. And the, that you stall it and then to recover from the stall, you dip the nose and you full power and you get the airflow back. But me being a very good student, when the guy demonstrated it to me, he did this action with his hand where he really shoved the stick forward and full power. So I was like, all right, cool. I'll do that. He do it with the actual stick. He just indicated. So I did the same thing, but that's not what he meant. He just meant dip the nose slightly. Well, I'm, I'm a really good student. So I follow it. his lead. And anyway, we went vertical and we went full power vertical and we lost about 2000 feet in less than a minute for sure. probably less than 30 seconds and we lost gravity. Everything in the plane lifted. And I was like, that was scary. Let's do it again. speaker-1: I think I have a healthy level of of of fear, you know, just just to keep me alive, you know. Would I fly my own plane? I dunno. speaker-0: It is a bit scary. speaker-1: I'm not I'm not great swi I'm not great with heights. I'm not great in the water. I'm not great with animals. speaker-0: You're great with combs. Yeah. Yeah. Go combs. And you're a baller. You're having enough going. Yeah. speaker-1: It's there. speaker-0: So, I mean, what are we, are we doing anything? I think you've got better. not sure how you've got used to a few dogs. You expect animals when you come to my house. Yeah. Exactly. Are we, are we just happy where we are? Do we want to speaker-1: I I genuinely I considered hypnotherapy because I knew my partner was an animal person. speaker-0: Yes, very much is. speaker-1: One point it was like, ooh, when we move in together, are we gonna get animals? Yep. However, we lucked out because we moved in literally neighbors to Luton Airport, which means we're always flying somewhere. Which means animals. speaker-0: Traveling speaker-1: no, what are we gonna do? speaker-0: You speaker-1: that is a shame. Never mind. So that was out of the question. So no pets for me. However, I think, you know, in terms of all my friends who have dogs yourself, what's it Holly's got a speaker-0: Roddy Jean Ridgeback. Thank you. He's beastly as well. speaker-1: But to be fair to Napoleon speaker-0: He's massive. love him. speaker-1: he's a he's a he's a relaxed he's never speaker-0: Unless you try to vaccinate him and let me tell you, you ain't doing that. speaker-1: I promise you, it is one thing I shan't be doing to him or any other animal. But but this is the thing, with him, like when I go over, he's he's pretty chill. speaker-0: Yeah. speaker-1: You know, he'll just lie there, I'll step over him, carry on with my day kind of thing. It doesn't bother me, I don't bother him. So he's not too bad. And I see how the kids interact with him. Yeah. And again, as he walks by, I like, there you go. look, I've petted you. Yeah. But if he's that speaker-0: the face. you like to pet him or is that like a box tick? I've done it. speaker-1: For me, it's it's a little bit of both because part of it is with trying to get good at anything, repetition, practice and repetition. Did it with piano, did it with ball, trying it with with animals. Now, it is highly unlikely that Holly's gonna give me Napoleon, you know, to stick around for a couple of days or whatever. So what I try and do is when I do go to visit, I acclimatize myself, you know. I was in Pick the Eastern Europe pick the right Eastern European country. It'll come to me. Slovakia. Yeah. There go. f for a mate's birthday and a niece had a little doggy thing. I don't know breeds. Iranian? No, no, no, wait, wait. speaker-0: Yorkshire Terrier. speaker-1: In that in that vein, it was a little one. speaker-0: The Chihuahua vein. speaker-1: Yeah, it might be Chihuahua or Terrier. We'll call it a Chihuahua terrier. But There you go. But it was a little shattery, I'll tell ya. Right? But it basically you know the small yappy ones that go at your ankles, right? And and Silva always laughs at me when a small dog is yapping at me and I'm panicking. Cause she's like, You are literally a giant, right? You've seen Gulliver's travels, yeah? Yeah. I am Gulliver to the Lillipush, right? And she's like, If you stepped on that dog, it would die. That I mean obviously we'd we're not advocating stepping on dogs. It's like speaker-0: You're that though. speaker-1: I need you to comprehend how big you are and how small this dog is, but the dog terrifies you. And I'm and I'm like, because one, I can't step on the dog. It's ideally speaker-0: Yeah. Yeah. Ideally not. speaker-1: not. And two, it's one of those for me, a yappy dog is almost worse than a big dog. because that yappy behavior is triggering and it's the weirdest thing, right? Like Phoenix is big, right? If Phoenix barked, I would soil myself. speaker-0: Yes. But... You almost did. I did. speaker-1: yeah. But temperament wise, Phoenix is calmer than the little dogs. Correct. Th bigger dogs are calmer than little dogs. Correct. So if I'm in the vicinity of a little dog, my my my my back is up. I I I'm just like, look, calm down. But what was interesting is again, the dog calmed down. It realized, okay, you're cool. The the humans I'm with like you, you're cool. We're fine. So again. Once the dog settled, I settled. I there is a picture of me, granted there is a blanket on me, but the dog's on the blanket. Right? So and I was like, let's get a picture to prove that me and the dog are cool. Because once the dog has come, my nervous system comes, cortisol goes down, and everyone's cool. Obviously, if it starts barking again, we shoot it away. But in you know, once they settle, I'm settled, we're good, you know? So for me, the karma the animal. the karma, the iffy. Yeah. You know? And and we're all right. could I stray in terms of other animals? We don't know. A friend of mine took me to a stable. She had a horse. Yeah. speaker-0: it's pretty big. Yeah. speaker-1: She's like, you can feed her. speaker-0: No, no, that would be an exchange of bodily fluids. There you go. speaker-1: So I I couldn't feed the horse, but again, from from the side, I could pet the horse because I think when they start making eye contact is when I get freaked out. Not just horses, any any animal. speaker-0: I was thinking about this and I think it might also be, when you grow up around them and you're part of your daily life, you can read their behavior. when you don't barking, we don't know what kind of bark that is. I'm scared or I'm whatever. yeah. And you misinterpret body language and things like that. Yeah. speaker-1: That's the thing, it's like w if you start a child doing something at a young age, they will grow into it and they will understand it. Yeah. I can't sw I didn't swim as a child. I can't swim as an adult. So now I have to go and get swimming lessons. Yeah. Am I great in the water? No. Do I go on holiday in water? Yes. speaker-0: So do you have fear of the water? Yes. You do. Yeah. speaker-1: But the fear of the water is well too. speaker-0: You and John should go together. He actually did swim lessons as an adult. Because speaker-1: And this is the thing. Yeah. And and the thing speaker-0: he wanted to swim with his kids on holiday and in the water and be safe. speaker-1: If you think about it, the majority of holidays are going to be near water. Right. So for me, you know, it's about getting comfortable in the water. Most excursions I I go with the the life jacket, I go with the the the the ring thing and I don't stray from the boat. And I usually go sorry, I'm not speaker-0: I'm picturing you with like the armbands on and maybe like a ducky ring around your waist. Hunter, Ain't no shame in it. Please tell me you also have a nose peg. speaker-1: A no shame because Well. So let me explain, right? Because it it's a whole bunch of things. Obviously speaker-0: I'm going to get so many clips of you doing these things and put it on my Instagram. Cause I think we should share this with everybody. speaker-1: Think so. I think you should let let the world know that there are people out there who aren't necessarily comfortable with open water or speaker-0: Handles wearing bands is OK. speaker-1: Nothing wrong with it. Nothing wrong with it. You know? But and but this is the thing though. I think part of it is if I don't do it, then what am I doing? So am I really gonna pay to fly to Greece and then sit on the boat when everyone's in the water? speaker-0: Yeah. speaker-1: Yeah. So you know, yes, I'll get in. Like we were in Italy. I got in the water, I'm all secure holding onto the rope tied to the boat. Worst case scenario, the skipper's looking at me, my friends who can swim, my, you know, swim buddies are close. I don't do anything stupid. You know, I know that I'm not great in water. So I'm not jumping off a boat. Yeah. I'm I'm using the ladder, I'm careful, and then when I get in, you know, my my feet's doing that, trying to keep me up. And I'm looking up at the sky, trying to keep my head up. And it's just, you know, things like that, you know? speaker-0: That's amazing though, you're going in deep water. speaker-1: Yeah. Seawater. And you know, I lay back, I'm I'm trying to float. It it weird thing to say. Part of it is the change in my hairstyle. Yeah. When I was growing up, when you're well, when you've got Afrohair, Afro hair and chlorine don't mix, yeah. So that's number one. speaker-0: I am being by you guys. speaker-1: If you get your hair wet, you're then spending ages trying to get something manageable to go, right? And your arm will ache, you're trying your brake homes, it it's a lot of hair maintenance. So you're not jumping in water willingly. Yeah. That's number one. So the minute I got my hair cut, I'm like, no, no hair to fuss about. Ooh, maybe I speaker-0: Maybe I'll speaker-1: So you know, we were what were we Jamaica and floating? Sil's like, ooh, you're doing it. I'm like, yeah. I'm doing it. You know. speaker-0: She's in the water! speaker-1: So again, I think for me it's very much a do it. You know, obviously don't be stupid about it. I know I can't swim, so I'm not going to do it alone, for example. You know, I'm it's going to be a chartered boat excursion with people. And I don't stray too far from the boat. Yeah? What's even funny is I can't swim, I don't like animals. Who's going snorkeling? Me! speaker-0: I love snowflakes speaker-1: Yeah, nothing w w w we w we had an excursion, we're all snorkeling and the lady's giving us giving us chicken to feed the fish. speaker-0: yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, delete anything. speaker-1: There you go. So she's like, there you go. Obviously, you hold it and the fish come to you. She goes to me. I was like, no thanks. speaker-0: I want them at a distance in case they exchange bodily fluids with me. speaker-1: So my mate, she had the chicken bone. So I I got the camera on the water. It's like, okay, you get the chicken bone. We both went under. Fish go to her. I'm recording. Like, yeah, look, fish. Yeah. They're coming at me and I'm like, underwater. And I'm thinking, yeah, this isn't, this isn't no, this is their domain. I I'm in their territory. So really I should get out. Yeah. So you know, it was it and again, it's just it's one of those things that I would hate to be on the boat watching my friends have this fan. when to a certain degree I could suck it up. you know, fish fish don't bite. speaker-0: been bitten by a fish before. yes, yes, I was. when I was 18, I went to New York because I just thought, else am I going to do? And I did Camp America. So we were upstate New York and, also a lot of people couldn't swim. I don't think that everyone learns to swim in New York city. Maybe there's not many swimming pools, I'm not sure. But there was a large number of people that couldn't swim. And then there were a few kids that wanted to swim. So I was like, okay, let's go. I ran and jumped off the little jetty into the lake. And I was like, woohoo, this is fun. Anyway, I jump under the water. And as I'm like coming back up, this fish dead ass looking me in the eyeballs. It was like this big, I think. And I was like, there's a lot of fish in here. Next thing I know, there was a little nip on my butt. This fish. Well, maybe his mate, because one was looking me in eyes and the other one bit me on the butt. And I was like, hell no, get me out of this lake. I don't want to be bit by fish. speaker-1: Don't fish. speaker-0: What about piranhas? They bite. yeah. speaker-1: But I'm not gonna be in water with piranha. speaker-0: Yeah. Well, maybe I don't what, what me. But yeah, speaker-1: Fuck. speaker-0: they have teeth. They can, but I mean, it's not a dangerous bite. It was like a bite. That's why I, yeah. I mean, think you give me a love bite. Yeah. On the cheek. speaker-1: Yeah. But I think I think for me, you know, again, I don't seek out, you know, the fish when I'm in water. speaker-0: That's the only time I've been bitten by a fish and I've been in a lot of oceans. speaker-1: Say yeah, yeah. speaker-0: Don't go in the lakes upstate New York and then otherwise it's fine. speaker-1: For me, it's either sea whilst uncontrolled still controlled in the way that a lake isn't if that makes sense because yeah in in exactly speaker-0: with your floaties. speaker-1: because in in a sea yeah I'd have the boat yeah I'd have my floaty yeah my life jacket speaker-0: Yeah. speaker-1: the string attached to the boat and then my friends speaker-0: Yes. speaker-1: and then in a pool I'd have my lifeguard and my floaty and my drink. Hundred percent. Yeah. I will fight my floating to keep it to literally jump out, stand up and save the drink. Yeah is is where I would be. Yeah. Yeah. Hundred percent. Yeah. You know. speaker-0: So how has it been having a friend that's a vet? speaker-1: Not gonna lie, I yeah. speaker-0: Yeah, you don't enjoy the store speaker-1: I mean, it's interesting, you know. the only time I've seen like bloodied animals, well not just bloodied animals, but like blood and surgery, I watch a lot of Greys. Yeah, I'm a Grays Anatomy fan and speaker-0: You know, you see all... speaker-1: Yeah, you see all crazies, but like what you do with obvious I wouldn't say real pets in the nature, but I don't know, is it I guess it's weird to sort of see somebody you know in a very real professional capacity. Yeah. Cause like all I I I got teacher friends. Teach your friends. Trying to think what what what else my friends do. speaker-0: They do. I guess someone working in housing. Yeah. Retail. speaker-1: But like nobody like does speaker-0: Surgery? Surgery. Yeah. speaker-1: You know, how come I don't know any doctors? I need to increase my friend group. speaker-0: Everything else, fan as best. Who knows? no, actually I've been out with doctors. They're pretty wild. speaker-1: That's what Yeah, there you go. But yeah, I don't it's it's sort of weird because like when I say to my friends, yeah, you know, I know a vet, they're like, Huh? It's such a random you don't have animals. I found her one time, she hasn't been able to go away. So yeah, here we are. But I don't know, I think like when I see like you know your stories and like hear everything that you do stuff, it's it's not like weird. creepy weird, but it's like it's weird to see you in such a serious profession. I think I think that's what it is. It's such because you're cutting open animals. speaker-0: Correct. speaker-1: it sounds very Hannibal lectory, but for want of a better phrase, you're cutting open animals speaker-0: I mean, I just came from work where I did a massive knee surgery. So yes, daily. speaker-1: And you show me like x rays and stuff and I'm looking at it like, what is that? speaker-0: Right, this is what I was wondering, because like how much have I shared with you? Because we have our friend Holly, she loves the story. She's like, give me the gory details, tell me what you've done today. Occasionally she's like, that's disgusting Vanessa, please be quiet. And then my husband, remember, so you remember probably when me and John first got together. And what I think is normal and normal pictures to send, let's say. speaker-1: Not normal. speaker-0: It's apparently not normal. So I remember sending him a picture of something that I was like, this is funny. And, basically I'm just deciding my brain whether to share this not. Cause I know how to gross everyone else out. There's this thing called paraphimosis. Right. speaker-1: Pas for me. speaker-0: Sometimes dogs get a little excited and their little willies come out and then they get stuck out and they can't get the back in. Maybe some hair wraps around it. Yeah. It gets all swollen and it's painful. Anyway, it comes into the clinic and you put sugar on it to does like osmosis helps it to shrink. And then you put on some lube and you pop it back in. speaker-1: The only osmosis I know is from high school science. speaker-0: that osmosis. Yes. you're out the fluid and I happened to have a picture of that and I sent it to him because I thought haha funny sugar we're using you know cast sugar some for your tea and some for the swilly. I said speaker-1: You sent a dick pic to a dude. But speaker-0: It was a speaker-1: it was a wait, wait, hold on. Just so we're clear. You took a picture of a dog who, by the way, was distressed, right? You took a picture of a dog's So so you took it without You took a picture of a dog's willy without speaker-0: He was chilling. I didn't, it's not going where I thought the conversation would go. speaker-1: Not only did you take the picture, you then sent it as a, hey, this is what I do. speaker-0: I just thought it was funny. He said, what are you doing? Why are you late? Yeah. So I provided evidence. speaker-1: I was putting sugar on a dog's willy. speaker-0: Yes, the dogs did really well. Anyway, he texts me back. Don't you ever, ever send me anything like that ever again. And I was in shock. I was like, I don't understand. What was offensive about this? speaker-1: If you so without the picture, I'm so sorry I'm late. I had to put sugar on the dog's willy. Without a picture, I would be like, what do you mean put sugar on the dog's willy? What are you chatting about? Blah blah blah blah blah. With the picture, speaker-0: to back it up. Yeah. speaker-1: I'd be like, huh. One, never send me anything like that again. I will believe anything you say relating to the vet for your lateness from speaker-0: from now. speaker-1: now on. I will not ask for evidence speaker-0: Yeah. speaker-1: so that we go back to point one. Yeah. You don't ever send me something like that again. Yeah. Although I don't think it's a picture I've seen. So I would like Dogs Willie post sugar. Yeah. I th well, but this is the thing though. I mean, we you've shown the you've shown me a couple of x-rays. speaker-0: kind of thing. speaker-1: No yeah. speaker-0: But I stood you guys up loads of times like loads because I've been stuck at work and I just, I don't know if I've apologized with pictures of evidence or if I've just like I'm at work. speaker-1: I think I've been appreciative of, you know, no, there's a there's a spleen out or you know, the cat's eyes popped out. Yeah. I don't think I ever need photographic evidence of the reason. No, I mean if you the fact that you say to me, I'm at work and I know you're a vet, so either your your hand is literally inside a dog or inside a yeah, I'm I'm cool. But to be fair though, I You're a you're a vet for pets. Hold on, wait, there's a question in there somewhere where it comes, right? Let's articulate the question, right? So you practice veterinary medicine. Correct. Which means any pet can be brought to you. Yes. speaker-0: Yes. speaker-1: What's the weirdest animal? Well, I I've always been because speaker-0: I'm getting interviewed on my webcam. Great. Okay, weirdest. I have helped to anesthetize a lion and a rhino because I got to do this really cool vet course in South Africa. It was amazing. I took blood from the lion. It was asleep obviously at the time. In the clinic, probably the weirdest things we've had in, well, I wouldn't call them weird. Uncommon. We've had snakes. Yeah. I've got to be honest. I've got nothing against them, but I don't love a snake. speaker-1: See nobody likes snakes. speaker-0: Yeah. Well, people have pet snakes. I feel they're good mousers. speaker-1: Basically, I had a friend who got a it's I was about to say kimono dragon, but it's not a kimono dragon because kimono is the clothing in it. But you know you know the dragon I met. The li the lizard one. Nakimano dragon. Yeah. Sorry kids. speaker-0: I think that might be the right word because I can't think of anything but that now. I would have to Google this. We don't have Siri here. speaker-1: We have to Google it. Okay. We're gonna we're gonna put a pin on it. We think it's a kimono dragon. it's a reptile Yeah. So one of them ones. Yeah. Funky looking chameleon style thing. Yeah. And I was like, no. It might have been a speaker-0: I it was actually a bearded dragon. Bearded dragon. Cause the ones you're thinking of are massive. And I don't think they're pet. I speaker-1: Yeah. Yeah. speaker-0: don't think... speaker-1: So I don't know. Basically speaker-0: I have a reptile vet she deals with this side of things. you go. Dogs and cats I'm your girl. speaker-1: I was gonna say, but basically my mate had a it had four legs skin and it speaker-0: Yes. speaker-1: did not look pretty. Yeah. And I've always I mean, I get that anything can be a pet, but surely you want something reasonably photogenic. Like re reasonably, you know? Look look at my bearded dragon. Yeah. speaker-0: What about Britney Spears danced with a snake? speaker-1: But it wasn't her pet. Mm, I thought speaker-0: It was somebody's pet. was pretty photogenic. To be fair though. I mean, I don't condone animals in entertainment. So a little naughty Brittany, but I love you. But she looked cool. speaker-1: Is here's the thing, right? 'Cause and I know how you feel about zoos, right? I remember w I was in Australia Yes speaker-0: Yeah speaker-1: Where are you? I like, no, we're we're just done our way, just passing the zoo. You're like, You're in a zoo? Yes. speaker-0: Yes. That's right, I was mad at you. And you want to bring the kids and I was like, absolutely. speaker-1: No, no. and this is the thing though, I do share your aversion to zoos because ultimately a zoo basically is an indication that we humans have failed. Zoos exist because we have failed. Why is a lion in a zoo? Because you wouldn't leave it outside. speaker-0: Yeah. speaker-1: So that's you know, in. But I never meant I've never asked you, I know you feel about zoos, but how do you feel about animals that work? as in in the movies 'cause obviously the Python that Britney had, I'm pretty sure I've seen that snake somewhere else. So it's a it's an you know? And speaker-0: Yeah. speaker-1: obviously speaker-0: That's a great question because I don't think I know the answer. One of my clients, I need to get her on. She's amazing. She's a pet agent. Yes, she's a pet agent. she, you know, like all the dogs and cats that you see on film. speaker-1: Fraser Eddie he was a he was a he he was a a a a acting doll. speaker-0: Yes. Yeah. Well, she, brings them all and, like she loves these dogs. She takes care of them so much. They're so happy. They have the best life. And, you have to have a vet on set that allows, like watches the wealthy and everything like that. yeah, it's on set. See monkeys are difficult. They're so, they need a lot of, enrichment and engagement and they're often taken away from other monkeys. So they're quite isolated. They're often kept in cages, situations. Like it's not good. I struggle with those kinds of pets, but what I'm thinking of is dogs and cats, they're very domesticated. They kind of live with you anyway. So if they're trained with positive reinforcement to do these things, then I don't think there's an issue. Can a snake tell you it's okay with doing that? I don't know. Hit me baby one more time. I don't know. speaker-1: enough. speaker-0: Okay, so let's get a reptile person on to tell us the answer. speaker-1: And I will listen to that podcast from a healthy distance. speaker-0: Yes. Let me tell you, this podcast did not go the way that I thought it was gonna go, but it has been fantastic. Thank you so much for coming on. You've already got my merch. So today you get some eclipse sunglasses. We're off to watch the... speaker-1: They are off to watch the eclipse. They said Yeah They said Don't look at don't look at it. Yeah, speaker-0: Don't look directly at the sun. sure that you have on your safety eclipse glasses. This is going to probably go out in September soon. Everyone's going to be like, what are they talking about? But there you go. speaker-1: Okay, so when this got recorded folks, there was an eclipse and we're not just looking silly. speaker-0: Correct. So there's no further ado. Thank you very much for coming on. tell the people let's head out. speaker-1: Thank you for having me. Ciao.