Post Punk for Paws: 03/05/18

I have always had a great appreciation for how music can bring people together. Music fans are able to connect through the therapeutic, cathartic and comforting environment of live music. It allows people to experience a form of escapism and motivate them to live in the moment. These positive effects can similarly be experienced through owning a pet.

A pet offers you unconditional love and a source of comfort through companionship. Animals live in the moment and remind their owners to do the same. Similar to music, a pet acts as a companion to comfort you through all the different emotions experienced in life. I wanted to combine both music and animals into an extracurricular project called Punk for Paws, to celebrate the positive affects both have on our lives.

As an aspiring veterinary student completing my second year of Animal Biology at the University of Guelph, I had the idea of organizing a third party fundraiser event for the Ontario Veterinary College Pet Trust charity. This event, called Punk for Paws, is a live concert fundraiser where all proceeds go to the OVC Pet Trust. This organization funds scientific research in the veterinary field to make improvements for pet health. Punk for Paws gives me the opportunity to support a charity relating to animal well-being and the veterinary field.

Once this concept was present in my mind, I had the desire to support this great cause while also creating a live music environment, something I love. Since the initial planning date in October 2017 to the event date of May 3rd, 2018, I was able to successfully execute this concept into a real night of live music. Although there were road blocks and challenges encountered throughout the planning process, the final result of the event was extremely rewarding and surreal. By meeting and working with new people who helped me achieve this goal, Punk for Paws has become a reality.

The night of Punk for Paws was truly remarkable from my perspective. I was able to see others enjoy the live music environment I created and gain awareness about OVC Pet Trust. The months of hard work had paid off and the turnout of the event had exceeded my expectations. My favorite part of the event was seeing everyone being so supportive and enthusiastic about the event itself. I am grateful for everyone’s support and being able to see my family and friends, meet unfamiliar faces at the event, as well as getting to work with amazing bands and the OVC Pet Trust team.

I have learned a lot from this experience and recognize places of improvement when reflecting on it, overall. In any career path or task completed, I feel that constantly learning and recognizing room for improvement is key. When I become a veterinarian I will take the skills learned from experiences such as Punk for Paws to ensure that I can be the best vet I can be and evolve throughout my career.

Music and animals have been a huge part of my life and it was heartwarming to see others with the same passion and become a part of Punk for Paws. To fellow aspiring veterinary students and classmates, I would definitely recommend trying something new such as organizing a third party event that is unique to your interests. It is a learning experience that is both rewarding and enjoyable.

From the bottom of my heart, thank you to everyone for coming out to the event and being supportive during the planning process. A specific thanks to Matt Fleury for taking great footage at the event and editing it all into the cool recap video, included above.