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Rick LeCouteur
Inviting young readers to marvel at the wonder of nature's creatures
Rick's Blog
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The Fragile Fortress: University leaders & corporate entanglements (#352)
At the heart of any great university lies a principle older than rankings, older than endowments, and older than the office of the...
Rick LeCouteur
Jun 17, 20253 min read
Bangkok’s Great Mystery: The story of Jim Thompson (#351)
The Jim Thompson House Museum In the heart of Bangkok, tucked behind high hedges and shaded by towering trees, lies a house that feels...
Rick LeCouteur
Jun 14, 20253 min read
Vanishing Acts: The black hole of children’s picture books (#350)
Every year, roughly 4 million new books are published globally. That staggering number represents the hopes and dreams of millions of...
Rick LeCouteur
Jun 12, 20253 min read
When Bureaucracy Fails: What Social Security could learn from a Vet Hospital (#349)
Let’s imagine something absurd. Your dog is not well. Not just a little off. Something’s wrong. You try to book an appointment at your...
Rick LeCouteur
Jun 12, 20254 min read
Suspending Belief: Veterinary tools that outrun the evidence (#348)
One of the more intriguing developments in recent years is the Equusir BEST‑BOX , a device marketed to diagnose and treat energetic...
Rick LeCouteur
Jun 9, 20253 min read
Animals in Childhood Development: What animals teach children (#346)
In the modern Western world, animals play a central role in childhood. From the moment a baby is born, animals surround them in...
Rick LeCouteur
Jun 8, 20254 min read
When the Halls Fall Silent: The rise and fall of veterinary conferences (#345)
There was a time, not long ago, when the annual veterinary conference was the heart and soul of the profession. Names like BSAVA , NAVC...
Rick LeCouteur
Jun 8, 20253 min read
Speaking Truth to Power: A lesson from Cassius and Murrow (#344)
Cassius (the younger man pointing) and Brutus (the older man listening) from Shakespeare's Julius Caesar . In the winter of 1954,...
Rick LeCouteur
Jun 7, 20252 min read
Speak Up, Even When It’s Risky: Why challenging power matters (#343)
There’s a quiet courage in standing up, not just for yourself, but for what’s right. Especially when the person you’re standing up to has...
Rick LeCouteur
Jun 7, 20254 min read
The World Is Waiting: Turn the Page (#342)
Saint Augustine , philosopher, theologian, and one of the towering intellects of the early Christian church, left behind many timeless...
Rick LeCouteur
Jun 6, 20252 min read
For Vets Only: Things we never say out loud (#341)
You know the look. The one you give your nurse across the room when the dog starts crashing. The look that says, “Get the crash cart -...
Rick LeCouteur
Jun 5, 20252 min read
To Younger Vets: Don’t mistake the growl for bitterness (#340)
A colleague recently challenged me, good-naturedly I think, that I was starting to sound like a grumpy old retired vet , always going on...
Rick LeCouteur
Jun 5, 20253 min read
Dropping the GRE for Vet School Admissions: Equity Boost or Quality Risk? (#339)
In recent years, many veterinary schools across the United States have dropped the Graduate Record Examination (GRE) as a requirement...
Rick LeCouteur
Jun 4, 20253 min read
BSAVA Bows Out: But what happens to belonging? (#338)
After 68 years, the British Small Animal Veterinary Association (BSAVA) has announced that its 2025 Congress will be its last. Once a...
Rick LeCouteur
Jun 4, 20253 min read
The Carolina Parakeet: A curious extinction (#337)
The once-abundant wild parrots vanished mysteriously in the early 20th century. Now scientists are closer to solving their...
Rick LeCouteur
Jun 4, 20256 min read
Right Lane Ends: A Warning for Veterinary Medicine (#336)
Somewhere on a lonely stretch of asphalt, I saw a mangled guide rail twisted like a wound. Among the debris was a fractured road sign,...
Rick LeCouteur
Jun 3, 20252 min read
Academic Leadership in Vet Med: Public Service or Private Profit? (#335)
In an era when public trust in institutions is eroding, the lines between service and self-interest grow increasingly difficult to...
Rick LeCouteur
Jun 1, 20253 min read
Deans, Dollars, and Divided Duties: The ethics of academic leadership on corporate boards (#334)
In academia, integrity and transparency aren’t just ideals. They're the foundation of public trust. But when university leaders step into...
Rick LeCouteur
May 31, 20253 min read
In Search of Integrity: A reflection on modern veterinary medicine (#333)
Are ethics, honesty, and integrity old school in Veterinary Medicine? The Quiet Cost of Conflicts of Interest and Commitment Once upon...
Rick LeCouteur
May 30, 20252 min read
Public Office, Private Interests: A quiet reckoning in veterinary medicine (#332)
The evolving relationship between veterinary schools and corporate animal health companies raises important questions about integrity , ...
Rick LeCouteur
May 29, 20254 min read
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