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Dr. Bruce Barrett shares his journey in veterinary surgery, English Cocker Spaniels, and advancing canine health through science.
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Dr. Bruce S. Barrett
1. My name is Dr. Bruce S. Barrett DVM. I was born in Jamaica, then immigrated to Canada in 1986. I attended undergraduate and veterinary school at the University of Prince Edward Island and the Atlantic Veterinary College (AVC), graduating in 1993. I practiced in Windsor, Ontario, Canada for five years; two of those years were an informal surgical internship at Oakland Veterinary Referral Services in Bloomfield Hills, Michigan. I then immigrated to the US in 1997 and started working in Southern California, first for a corporate practice and then a private 24/7 practice with a staff of 45.
In 2001, I went to All Care Animal Referral Hospital in Fountain Valley, California, and started a surgical residency, which I didn’t complete. Since then, I have been in private practice, and in 2010, I opened Cosmo Veterinary Surgical Services. My practice is limited to small animal surgery with an emphasis on orthopedics.
I have owned English Cocker Spaniels since I was nine years old, and started breeding at age 16. In the US, I have been involved with the breed for 30 years, a member of the ECSCA (English Cocker Spaniel Club of America) for approximately 20 years, and a member of the Health and Rescue Committee for 12 years. I have been instrumental in chairing and facilitating health clinics at our National Specialties for 12 years.
My kennel name is Manderley.
2. English Cockers (ECS) are Sporting dogs with great drive and function; they can flush and retrieve game, with a soft mouth, from both land and water. They are merry and happy, great companions, and excellent house pets. They are compact Sporting dogs with lots of drive. Their conformation is vital for their function to work in the field.
3. My breed is not very popular, which means we don’t have many litters bred yearly compared to other Sporting dogs, like Labrador Retrievers or other retrievers or setters. So, I do believe we can breed a litter this year to support puppy and show homes.
4. As a scientist and doctor, I am a strong supporter of using technologies with respect to health and genetic testing to advance breeding healthier dogs.
5. My community certainly recognizes the importance of purebred dogs and is supportive of policies related to preservation breeders.
6. The sport of dogs is, unfortunately, dying as it’s aging out, and it’s difficult to encourage and recruit young folks into the sport of dogs due to time, money, and lack of exposure. But I am always trying to mentor and inspire young kids to get involved with pets, particularly dogs and veterinary medicine.
7. More breeders are conscientious about health and genetic diseases that affect their breeds, and most reputable breeders do their due diligence to promote this.
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