Megan Allsopp

5th Year Student

My name is Megan Allsopp, I was born in Canterbury, Kent in the UK where I lived until I was 5. Then I moved to a small town called Maun in the North of Botswana where I lived for 4 years with my family. The majority of the people in Maun live in very poor conditions and, as a result, so do their animals. The village dogs and cats and the livestock are often mistreated and many times as a child I helped my mum rescue sick and injured donkeys, horses, cows, dogs and cats as well as some wildlife.

I think that’s where my passion for animals and animal welfare began and I knew from that early age that I wanted to be in a position to help. My family moved to Australia when I was 12 and after completing my high school education I moved to Perth to begin the veterinary degree at Murdoch University. I loved all five years of the degree and cannot imagine doing anything else with my life. I returned to Maun recently and volunteered in a Welfare Clinic there. It was one of the most heart breaking but wonderfully rewarding experiences of my life.

What has been your most frightening experience at Vet School?
Besides exams… Probably being chased around a very small yard by a 600kg, extremely angry dairy cow.

What was your first Pet?
A retired breeding bull terrier named Piglet who my parents rescued before I was born. She loved me and I spent most of my time as a toddler sleeping in her bed with her and the cat – Kitty.

What has been the best part of going through Vet School?
I have really loved 99% of my university experience. Definitely one of the best parts has been the people I have met along the way and the amazing friends I have made!

What inspired you to become a Vet?
My parents. We have always had pets and been taught that they are a member of the family and to treat them like you would like to be treated. They taught me to really love animals. When we lived in Africa my mum seemed to collect sick animals and spent a lot of time and money fixing them up. I think that’s where it came from.

What should every good Vet know?
Never trust a cat.