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Merel Taal DVM MRCVS CHPV is the founder and Principal Director of Dignipets, a pioneering veterinary hospice service in the UK. Merel has grown the organisation from a single practice into a nationwide network with a dedicated online hospice consulting team. A passionate advocate for end-of-life care, she not only supports families and their pets but also mentors fellow veterinary professionals in establishing their own hospice services.
Please give a brief summary of your career path so far – feel free to share what motivated your career decisions:
I was a mature student, having worked for a few years before starting at Utrecht University in the Netherlands where I am from. When I graduated in 2007, I initially chose mixed animal practice as I had not decided on a direction to work in or a country live in. I have always been a very independent person, so I loved being self-employed from the start of my career. By being a locum vet, I was not only able to build great relationships with colleagues in the veterinary industry, but I was also able to see all the different business ownership structures that exist within the industry. In 2009, I chose to continue my career as a small animal veterinarian in the UK and immersed myself in emergency medicine. I quickly realised that there was a gap between diagnosis and euthanasia, and a lack of home care for end-of-life patients. In 2015, I decided to fill that gap by starting Dignipets, a mobile service for end-of-life care. The brand grew quickly, and ten years on, I am now principal director of a company with exceptional colleagues who share my core values: veterinary ownership, community, and compassion.
What is it about your work that enthuses you and brings you satisfaction?
I love seeing vets become independent and grow their own brands. Veterinary medicine is a challenging career, especially in practice – there aren’t many options beyond becoming a partner, specialising, or starting your own practice. The latter often means no work-life balance and significant debt. Supporting other vets in creating something for themselves is deeply satisfying. I also find fulfilment in contributing to my local community – being available for pet carers during delicate times and helping family practices maintain continuity of care. We complete the circle of care for GP vets without concerns about client retention.
What is the biggest challenge to staying passionate in your veterinary career you’ve overcome, and how did you approach it?
The biggest challenges I have faced have been repetition, boredom, compassion fatigue, and poor management.
I believe you have to keep moving forward without becoming distracted by things outside your plan, or by negativity. Being self-employed or running your own business can be perceived as risky but it can also be an excellent antidote to boredom and the martyrdom that can come with working under poor management as an employee.
I found committing to a job or practice very difficult until I found my own niche and community, so to speak. What I wanted didn’t really exist, so I created something I was happy with without worrying too much about what other people thought.
Compassion fatigue and work-life balance remain challenges for me even now. When you’re always operating at 110% and passionate about your business, it’s incredibly hard to switch off – there are constant possibilities, opportunities, and people who need help and support everywhere you look. The solution has been building a strong team who share the workload and values, allowing me to step back when needed whilst maintaining the quality of care our clients and vets expect.
This whole journey has taught me that staying passionate means creating the career you want, not waiting for it to exist.
“Staying passionate means creating the career you want, not waiting for it to exist.”
What advice can you share with others embarking on similar paths about finding fulfilment in their veterinary career?
If you feel you have something to explore, go for it – but don’t go alone. Share your ideas long before they’re polished and do what we vets often struggle with: ask for help and delegate. The isolation many of us feel in practice doesn’t have to define your entire career.
Here’s what I’ve learned: you don’t need to know everything before you start. You just need to know where you want to go and trust that you’ll learn along the way. The key is to simply begin.
There is a perspective shift that changed everything for me: the moment you graduate, you’re already a business. Regardless of your employment status or tax structure, you have a valuable skill set – you are a brand, a force in your own right. The question isn’t whether you’re capable of independence; it’s what you choose to do with that power.
Nothing in our industry functions without vets and nurses. That’s not a burden – it’s leverage. We should feel empowered by our essential role. If you want change in your career or the profession, you have more ability to create it than you think. Stop waiting for permission or the perfect moment. Start building the career that fulfils you.
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“Stop waiting for permission or the perfect moment. Start building the career that fulfils you.”
What best sums up your approach to keeping yourself and your team motivated and engaged within veterinary careers?
As most of us work remotely, it’s vital we get out and gain inspiration from our community. Congresses like British Veterinary Receptionists Association (BVRA) and British Veterinary Nursing Association (BVNA), and conferences like International Association for Animal Hospice and Palliative Care (IAAHPC) are essential for that. We also have a work fund that supports team gatherings and activities to build connections and have fun.
We prioritise wellbeing, knowing that sustainable performance matters more than perfection. Life always comes first – some days, simply showing up really is enough.
Staying connected as a remote team requires constant effort. We focus our energy on supporting those who are engaged and aligned with our values, recognising that protecting team culture sometimes means making difficult decisions early to preserve the positive environment we’ve built.
What do you feel would most benefit job satisfaction in the veterinary professions, and how could we work towards implementing this?
I think early career exploration and mentorship would significantly improve job satisfaction across the profession. Many new graduates feel pressured to be perfect rather than discovering what truly suits them. Universities that integrate career pathway discussions and self-reflection into the curriculum, help students identify their values and interests before they qualify.
Equally important is creating diverse career options beyond traditional practice, partnership, or specialisation. We need to normalise portfolio careers, part-time work, and entrepreneurship as valid paths. Professional bodies can facilitate this through mentorship schemes connecting experienced vets with those exploring different directions.
When vets feel empowered to shape careers around their strengths and values rather than conforming to a narrow path, job satisfaction naturally improves.
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