My wife, Sarah, and I spent a month as crew on a yacht in the more remote areas of the Caribbean. On many evenings when we moored, we were the only people around. An incredible privilege and an unforgettable experience. We went with my partner in our veterinary practice and it was great to work as a team on something other than work.
Staff Spotlight: Dr. Vinay Ramlau
Title:
Trustee and Resident VeterinarianPhotos
Dr. Vinay Ramluaul obtained a Bachelor of Veterinary Science degree at the University of Zimbabwe. He has been a small animal veterinarian for 25 years and is also the wildlife, large animal and domestic animal vet for the Twala Trust. He is the managing partner at the 24 Hour Vet Hospital in Harare. He is married to Twala's founding trustee, Sarah Carter, and is also a Twala trustee.
What is your favorite travel memory?
How have you changed/grown since working for your current company?
Working with the rural community and their dogs has given me a real insight into the bond that exists between people in rural areas and their animals, and how important the animals are. That has given me a different perspective on the vet work we do. Working with wildlife, including big cats and exotic species rescued by Twala Trust, has been a learning curve and a privilege.
What is the best story you've heard from a return student?
Many volunteers come to the Twala Trust as vet or pre-vet students. When they return having progressed in or completed their studies, that is very rewarding. We presently have a qualified vet nurse who first came to Twala as a teenager, with no idea of what she wanted to do. She now has a degree in veterinary nursing and is using her skills to help various animal rescue organizations as she travels around the world.
If you could go on any program that your company offers, which one would you choose and why?
The vet programme that we offer to pre-vet and vet students, and to anyone studying animal sciences is a fantastic way to get genuine hands-on experience in a unique environment.
We have so many different species at Twala, we do all our own vet work as well as running a free community vet clinic for animals from low-income rural households, and you won't find a more comprehensive and real experience anywhere else. The programme is small, a maximum of 6 volunteers at a time, so volunteers get to participate in a meaningful way in our work.
What makes your company unique? When were you especially proud of your team?
Our focus is on providing the best quality of life possible to an enormous variety of species. The attention to detail, the belief that every life matters and that it is always worth trying to save a life makes our work environment very positive. I am enormously proud of what we have achieved, against some pretty big odds, and that despite many challenges we have always maintained our ethics. Animal welfare is the most important factor in what we do.
What do you believe to be the biggest factor in being a successful company?
Ethics are extremely important. What you see on social media about our work is what actually happens on the ground. We are responsible for the welfare of a great many animals and we take that very seriously. Working together as a team is vital, as is attention to detail in every aspect. We put the animals' welfare first, and it shows. We appreciate our staff, volunteers and supporters and that also show. We would not be able to do what we do without them.