President John F. Kennedy once said, “We must find time to stop and thank the people who make a difference in our lives.” Yes, it is important to thank those who impact our lives in a positive way. Whether it’s your parents, teachers, doctors, police, or firemen, they all deserve our gratitude. Let’s also remember the veterinarians who make our world a safer and healthier place.

The next time you’re playing with your dog Jazz, think about the small animal veterinarian who keeps Jazz healthy and active. When you take Jazz to the animal hospital for his vaccines or because he has diarrhea from worms, remember to say, “Thank you!” to your veterinarian. Every day, veterinarians work hard to prevent and treat diseases in our pets. Some diseases, including some worm infections, can be passed from pets to people. By sending you home with a medicine for Jazz to get rid of his worms, your veterinarian is protecting both your dog and you.

The next time you drink a big glass of cold milk, think about the large animal veterinarian who keeps Buttercup healthy so she produces nutritious milk. When your class takes a field trip to the local dairy farm, remember to say, “Thank you!” to the farm’s veterinarian. Every day, veterinarians work hard to protect the health of dairy cows, pigs, and other animals that give us food. Some diseases in people, called foodborne diseases, are caused by eating or drinking food that contains harmful germs that can make you sick. By keeping Buttercup and the rest of the herd healthy, the farm’s veterinarian is protecting both the dairy cows and the milk you drink.

We should also say, “Thank you!” to the many veterinarians who work in the federal government. These veterinarians may not be so easy to pick out. They usually don’t wear white lab coats or mucky coveralls with stethoscopes hanging around their necks. They usually don’t work in animal hospitals or on farms. Most federal veterinarians wear typical “going-to-the-office” clothes and work in office buildings. Every day, they work behind the scenes to protect our health and the health of our animals.

Federal veterinarians who work at the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) have many important jobs. They make sure the medicines we give our animals are safe and do what they’re supposed to do. They also keep the food we eat and the food we feed our animals safe.

When you give Jazz his worm medicine, thank federal veterinarians for making sure it is safe and works. When you bake a cake for your mother’s birthday, also thank federal veterinarians for making sure the milk and eggs you use are safe.

So, let’s join together to thank veterinarians for all they do!

Learn more about federal veterinarians at work at FDA’s Center for Veterinary Medicine.