The Veterinary Viewfinder Podcast
Dr. Ernie Ward and Beckie Mossor, MPA, RVT, have co-hosted their award-winning weekly veterinary podcast since 2016. Each week, they “tackle the toughest topics in veterinary medicine,” highlighting controversial issues and trending news, introducing veterinary key opinion leaders and provocateurs, and offering solutions to the myriad challenges facing the veterinary profession.
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Cruella Chihuahuas, Media Stereotypes, Flat-Faced Breeds & What Should Veterinary Professionals Do?
Will the hit Disney Movie Cruella create in a surge in Dalmatians, Chihuahuas, or Chinese Crested dogs? Do media stereotypes about certain breeds or animals lead to painful cosmetic surgeries or stigmas? This week we tackle veterinary professionals and how to proactively respond to pet and animal media trends and movements. We go a LOT deeper than Disney this week, Viewfinders!
Hosts Dr. Ernie Ward and Beckie Mossor, RVT chat about the recent portrayal of dogs in the Disney movie Cruella. The pair speculate on whether or not veterinary clinics will see an increase in Dalmatians, chihuahuas, or even Chinese Crested dogs as a result of their movie portrayals. Are veterinary professionals doing enough to educate the public on some of the potential health risks associated with these breeds? What can we do better?
This episode’s conversation includes how media portrayals can lead to breed stereotypes and perhaps cosmetic procedures such as ear cropping and tail docking.
There’s plenty of discussion on how emotionally demanding working in a clinic that performs cosmetic surgeries, declaws, or ignores certain breed-associated health risks can be for concerned vet professionals.
Viewfinders, these are important questions our profession needs to ask. While answers are few and perhaps even controversial at times, we hope this podcast encourages more solutions.
Many veterinary teams have one: the colleague who runs to management about every minor mistake or late trash bag. But when does necessary reporting turn into destructive tattling?
This week on The Veterinary Viewfinder, Dr. Ernie Ward and Beckie Mossor, MPA, RVT, unpack one of the profession’s most frustrating dynamics: coworkers who undermine team culture by excessive fault-finding.
Hosts Dr. Ward and vet tech Beckie Mossor examine how tattletale behavior often stems from insecurity, perfectionism, or even underlying issues like OCD, yet still chips away at psychological safety and trust. They discuss the difference between legitimate reporting and gossip, and why managers must address patterns early before morale collapses. Ignoring the issue doesn’t make it go away; it drives good employees out while problem behavior festers.
Listeners will learn practical strategies, such as anonymous “concern boxes,” structured feedback models (SBI: Situation, Behavior, Impact), and defining gossip as “talking to someone who can’t solve the problem.” The hosts also share real-life examples where unchecked tattling escalated into fractured teams, cover-ups, and even departures of top performers.
Whether you’re a manager navigating a chronic complainer or a technician tired of walking on eggshells, this episode offers valuable insights and practical tools to help you reclaim a healthier clinic culture. Because in veterinary medicine, trust isn’t optional; it’s the foundation of patient care.