Warwick’s and La Jolla Riford Library present Jacqueline Johnson as she discusses and signs her new book, Elinor McGrath, Pet Doctor: The Story of America’s First Female Veterinarian. Jacqueline Johnson received a BS in Wildlife Biology before going on to become a small-animal veterinarian. She is the author of The Doggy Doctor and The Upset Tummy.
I can do this! Elinor rolled up her sleeves. She was smart enough. She was strong enough.
When Elinor McGrath decided she wanted to be a veterinarian, the world told her no. It was 1907, and that job was not considered suitable for women. Even after she was accepted into veterinary school, the 137 male students in her class made it clear she was not welcome. Yet despite constant criticism, Elinor persevered. She could see that the future was changing and was determined to show the world of veterinary medicine that accepting women wasn’t the only change the profession needed.
Written by a small-animal veterinarian, Elinor McGrath, Pet Doctor tells the true story of the first woman veterinarian in the US. Backmatter highlights Elinor’s career as well as other pioneering women vets from around the world.
