Vet Judged for 'Designer Pets'—Then Reveals Heartbreaking Reality – Newsweek

A veterinarian who felt judged for having so-called "designer pets" has taken to social media to share the harsh reality of each one’s rescue story, showing how they both came into her life purely by showing up to work.

Dr. Ashley Gray, a small-animal veterinarian from Charlotte, North Carolina, often receives comments about her four senior pets, as many people presume they must be from breeders. Gray, 38, told Newsweek that her animals resemble purebreds or what people consider "fancy mutts," so they assume each one was bought.

 "I understand how attached people can be to certain breeds, but appearance doesn’t tell a pet’s full story," Gray said. "One of my dogs is an Aussie poodle, and doodles have a bad reputation because of how widely and irresponsibly they’re bred. That makes people even more curious (and judgmental) about their origin."

Gray’s roll call of rescues includes Lola the 16-year-old long-haired cat; Louis the 13-year-old Australian shepherd mix; Napoleon the 11-year-old gray cat; and Sawyer the 11-year-old Aussie poodle. Each one came into Gray’s life through work, and, by adopting them, she gave them all second chances.

While Gray was working as a vet assistant, someone brought in Lola, who was just 6 weeks old at the time. She had been hit by a car and suffered a broken pelvis and needed to have her tail amputated. It was "love at first sight" for Gray, so, once Lola was nursed back to health, she became part of the family.

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