How does a person become a vet? When I was growing up in the Czech Republic, I figured out that the smell of cows was connected to my dad’s job.

I soon joined him on his frequent farm calls. I remember many things: the muddy roads in the middle of nowhere, the stables and cows. Walking behind cows was risky: as soon as I saw the cow’s tail going up, I knew I should clear the way.

Farms were not the only animal experience of my childhood. After my third sibling came along and my mother put her foot down, my father adopted a ‘sausage dog’ called Gerda. It didn’t take long for Gerda to climb the family ladder and become my dad’s favorite ‘child’. She completely adored my father and loved to carry my dad’s dirty socks around.

My true love, however, was horses.

When I was 11, my parents enrolled me in the local riding club, and I remember riding a Shetland Pony stallion who didn’t enjoy carrying little brats around. He learned that if he lowered his gait, he could run under the riding ring fence and leave me hanging there, so he could gallop off to see his girlfriends in the pasture.

My childhood experiences with animals were life-changing. My first horse died of colic. When she became unwell I asked to stay in the stables overnight to look after her, but I was too young. I was broken-hearted when I found her stall was empty the next day.

My true love was Alfa, a chestnut mare who suffered from chronic tendonitis. I looked after Alfa during her recovery from “blistering”: burning the areas of inflamed tendons to supposedly cause better healing, which never made sense to me. The worst part was that the trainer continued to use her for lessons while she was injured. I decided, then, that I wanted to be a vet and asked God, the Universe for help. Perhaps my prayers were heard, because Alfa was lucky. She was purchased by a farmer and his family, who built her a beautiful stall, fenced a 5-acre pasture with a pond and trees. I missed seeing her every day but I knew she was well.

When I look at back, I know that these events were preparation for my true purpose: becoming a vet. I wanted to be there for animals, help them, heal them and teach people how to provide them with what they need. We have so much to learn about animals’ insight, connection with nature, intuition and acceptance.

In 1990, I visited my sister in Vancouver, Canada, and fell in love with the mountains, ocean, and laidback lifestyle. After moving there in 1991 and passing the rigorous veterinary licensing process, I joined an animal practice in Whistler, BC. My interests led me to take courses in holistic veterinary medicine and animal homeopathy. In 1999, I established Healing Place, a holistic veterinary medicine center in North Vancouver.

I have become increasingly interested in exploring the connections between physical health and emotional well-being. Another part of my work is focused on connections between people and their pets and their health.

Shortly after I started with homeopathy, the use of prescription drugs in my practice dropped by an incredible 80 - 90%! I was thrilled by the results and continued to approach medicine with an open mind and intuition. I feel very grateful for all the knowledge I have gained over the years. The current state of medicine in most countries shows that despite technological progress, the incidence of chronic degenerative diseases and unnecessary suffering of both animals and people is still very prevalent. Our society's reliance on pharmaceutically oriented research has created a situation that is not sustainable. Most developed countries spend more than 50% of their tax revenue on health care while drug and medical equipment costs are skyrocketing.

Most importantly, no one can put a cost on the physical and emotional suffering that, in many cases, could be easily prevented. We hope that through our company's work , education, research and charity we will be able to contribute some solutions to these problems.

Photos below (Clockwise from the top)

Peter and his first dog - Gerda

Peter in Vet School at a farm call

Peter and Alfa his favorite horse