I know all the stereotypes about vets. We work as clinicians as seen in All Creatures Great and Small and are intrinsically motivated to help every animal we cross. And yes, that is partly true. There are three major pillars in which vets can work. Most vet school students want to work with pets in a clinical setting after completing their studies, making this the most sought-after pillar and fulfilling the stereotype. In contrast, there is a large need for vets in the second pillar: working with food producing livestock or in abattoirs. In the big picture of general health this is much more important than performing neuro - surgery on paraplegic dachshunds, even if it is less glamorous. The third pillar is lesser known: a scientific career. In itself another broad field, this may vary from working on the bench in a university or pharmaceutical company to supervising animal welfare in laboratories.