10 Things You Didn’t Know about “The Vet Life” on Animal Planet

Reality shows are all the rage in the 21st century. There are reality shows for almost any type of viewer imaginable. If you are pet lover or your love the fast pace of emergency treatment centers, you will probably love The Vet Life, a pet-based show on Animal Planet. The show follows Dr. Aubrey Ross, Dr. Diarra Blue, and Dr. Michael Lavigne, all of which recently made the move to Houston, Texas to open a full-service veterinarian clinic and pet shelter. The show follows these doctors as they attempt to manage the fast-paced events at the animal hospital while attempting to engage the responsibilities of family life.

There are plenty of moments in which these doctors go the distance to save the lives of pets, so there is no shortage of suspense and moments of frustration. As the shoe moves into another season, there are still a lot of Animal Planet fans who want to know more about the show and its cast. While it is impossible to share everything in one short article, here are 10 facts about the show that you probably are unaware of.

1. All Three Doctors are Black Males

This is unique for a lot of reasons. The current national demographic surrounding any type of health professionals will be predominately non-Black; however, that reality his heavily pronounced when it comes to the field of veterinary medicine. This is what makes the fact that all three of the veterinarians that star in this reality television show are Black males.

2. All Three Graduated from Tuskegee University College of Veterinary Medicine

There is a lot of great history associated with Tuskegee University, and once again, the school shines brightly as three of its celebrated graduates take their aspirations mainstream. What is quite refreshing to me is that they chose to open their clinic in my immediate area in Houston. It is obvious that they put some serious consideration into the location for their joint venture.

3. Uniting to Strengthening the Chance of Success

Launching a new business is always a challenge and not without its share of risks. The facts can be quite daunting. According to several studies over the last decade, most businesses fail within the first five years of opening. The new rise of technology has delivered a major blow to brick and mortar establishments. Fortunately, it is hard to get your pet snake treated online. Also, the fact that these doctors are working together creates a situation in which one person is not bearing the entire load.

4. They Are Huge Advocates of Preventative Medicine

One of the greatest pushes in human medicine is to be proactive and use preventative measures. This is a sermon being preached by the doctors of The Vet Life as well. One central focus of all three doctors is to educate the public on the importance of preventative medicine will seeking to ensure the health of pets.

5. The Running of the Show Was Accident

If you are wondering how these doctors came to be on the radar of producers for Animal Planet, it was all about knowing the right people, or should I say the right person. As it turns out, Dr. Diarra Blue’s sister, Nawara Blue, served as a producer for the popular reality show Pawn Stars for a number of years. She pitched the show idea to Argel Bargle films, a production company, and the rest is history.

6. They Met While on their Academic Journey

While they were not all in the college of veterinary medicine at the same time, they were at the school at the same time. Dr. Blue did a six-year work study in the Vet School lab, where he met Dr. Ross who mentored him, which eventually led to him getting into the program. Dr. Lavigne was Dr. Ross’s classmate. Now the three are not only partners but very close friends.

7. Migrating from Detroit

Some would think that being a Detroit native would lead to major culture shock moving to Texas to raise a family, but Dr. Blue admits that he visited Texas often when he was a kid. He also sees Texas as the perfect environment to raise a family and start a business, especially at this stage in his life. He feels like he is in the growth stage of his life and Texas is an ideal place to support that growth.

8. It’s Not Just About Animal Medicine

A significant part of the practice of the doctors on this show extends beyond what they do in the operating and treatment rooms at their animal hospital. All three doctors are huge advocates for health animal adoptions as a solution to the homeless pet epidemic in Hoston and beyond. The doctors are constantly working with the Conroe (a subdivision of Houston) Animal Adoption Center.

9. Dr. Levigne is the Soft Tissue Specialist

Anything that does not involve orthopedic surgery is handled by Dr. Levigne, including the more common surgeries like spays and neuters to the more complicated surgeries like intestinal surgeries.

10. Dr, Ross is a Native Houstonian

What is interesting is that Dr. Ross grew up where I grew up, so he is definitely familiar with the challenges of inner-city youth in the Houston Area. His focus in the clinic is centered on treating the more common pets like dogs and cats. Because of the hot and humid conditions in Houston, the mosquito population blossoms — leading to a lot of heartworm cases, but the doctors are up to the task.