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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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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. Â Names like BSAVA , NAVC...
Rick LeCouteur
Jun 83 min read
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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 72 min read
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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 74 min read
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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 62 min read
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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 52 min read
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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 53 min read
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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) Â as a requirement...
Rick LeCouteur
Jun 43 min read
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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. Â Once a...
Rick LeCouteur
Jun 43 min read
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The Carolina Parakeet: A curious extinction (#337)
The once-abundant wild parrots vanished mysteriously in the early 20th century. Â Now scientists are closer to solving their...
Rick LeCouteur
Jun 46 min read
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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. Â Â Among the debris was a fractured road sign,...
Rick LeCouteur
Jun 32 min read
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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 13 min read
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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 313 min read
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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 302 min read
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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 294 min read
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Cheetah Coalition: The blinded eye and the loyal heart (#331)
In the golden grasslands of Africa, speed is everything. To be a cheetah is to carry the burden of being the fastest land animal on...
Rick LeCouteur
May 273 min read
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Crows & Ravens: The consciousness of corvids (#330)
As children, many of us watched a crow tilt its head or a raven glide overhead and wondered: What’s going on inside their minds?  For...
Rick LeCouteur
May 264 min read
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Why Orange Cats Are (Mostly) Boys: Science cracks the code (#329)
For years, the genetic mystery of orange cats has gone unsolved. While their personalities have long inspired memes, comic strips, and...
Rick LeCouteur
May 264 min read
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When Nature Imitates Politics: The southern flannel moth (#328)
Deep within the forests of the southeastern United States and parts of the Amazon, a peculiar caterpillar has captured public attention,...
Rick LeCouteur
May 252 min read
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Titanic’s Missing Passenger: A cat named Jenny (#327)
Among the many legends to drift from the wreckage of the RMS Titanic , one tale stands out. Not for tragedy, but for survival. Her name...
Rick LeCouteur
May 242 min read
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Snollygoster: A deliciously devious word (#326)
Every now and then, the English language coughs up a word so curious, so characterful, and so loaded with sly charm that it demands to be...
Rick LeCouteur
May 242 min read
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