TUSKEGEE, Ala. — Three Tuskegee veterinarians are starring in a new reality show called “The Vet Life” that will premier on Animal Planet this summer.
The show will follow the three Tuskegee University grads as they open a new veterinary hospital and animal shelter in Houston, Texas. According to the show’s website, “The series captures the doctors’ lives as they juggle running a new business while managing their family life filled with spouses, parents, in-laws, children, pets and friends, as well as their intense moments saving the lives of animals at their clinic.”
Dr. Diarra Blue, Dr. Aubrey Ross and Dr. Michael Lavigne met while they were students in Tuskegee University’s College of Veterinary Medicine. The three quickly became best friends and bonded through their studies.
“Dr. Ross and I started at Tuskegee University School of Veterinary Medicine in 2003,” Lavigne said. “Dr. Blue was at Tuskegee still finishing up his undergraduate studies in animal science. He had plans on entering vet school once he finished his undergraduate studies, so we kind of got to know Dr. Blue before he actually started vet school.”
The seeds of friendship that were planted in Tuskegee grew after graduation as they all took internship positions at an animal hospital in Las Vegas. Lavigne and Ross were offered jobs at the hospital after they finished the program, and Blue came to join them two years later.
“The three of us not having any family out there in Las Vegas, we became our own family and our bond just kind of strengthened,” Lavigne said. “We started discussing plans for the future and we just developed the idea to start a practice together.”
Last year, the three vets decided to move to Texas and opened the Cy-Fair Animal Hospital in the Cyprus-Fairbanks neighborhood of Houston, which will be the main setting of the show.
The series will not only follow the doctors’ lives, but it will also focus on educating and inspiring the next generation of veterinarians.
“The main thing that we hope for is, we’re really big on trying to educate and actually try and encourage younger people — especially minorities, African-Americans — that this is an opportunity and a possibility,” Lavigne said.
“What I would like people to know is that what they see on the show is genuine. The three of us have a really strong bond together and we’re passionate about our careers and our families. I hope it brings something to people that they can relate to when they watch the show.”
“The Vet Life” will premier Saturday, June 4 at 8:00 pm on Animal Planet.
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