When Dr Sheddy’s realised her lifelong dream of becoming a vet wasn’t all about saving animals she decided to forge her own journey – one that lead her first to China, then Panama and now all around Central America aboard her (sometimes) trusty sailing boat.

 

Dr Sheddy’s story is one many people can relate to – finding out your career isn’t exactly what you thought it’d be and trying to make sense of it all. But the way Sheddy found balance is pretty unique.

Leaving a veterinary clinic in Australia, she moved to China to save bears before buying a sailing boat in Panama. She now sails around Central America treating animals that’d never otherwise have access to care, and she does it all thanks to the support she gets online.

Listen to the episode to hear how she learnt to sail on her own boat, some of her wildest animal rescues, and what her future sailing vet adventures hold.

If you’d like to support Vet Tails, you can pledge a monthly donation to help Dr Sheddy keep up her work and follow along the sailing vet journey.

 

In This Episode We Cover

  • Dr Sheddy’s early career
  • Learning to sail and upkeep a boat
  • Living through Covid on the boat
  • Access to resources
  • How Dr Sheddy gets funding
  • Work-life balance
  • The online sailing community
  • Interesting animal treatments
  • How to support Vet Tails

Follow Along for More!

Show us some love and subscribe wherever you get your audio fix. It helps us to continue bringing you the goods and to uncover the weird and wonderful adventure folk (that’s you!) who are doing inspiring things.

Find us on Spotify and Apple Podcasts with new episodes every second hump day 🐪.

Or check out the We Are Explorers Podcast page.

 

Images by @dr.sheddy_the.sailing.vet

Featured Event

Belangoloopy – Paddy Pallin Intro Rogain

  • Start Date: Jun 15, 2025
  • Venue: Belanglo State Forest

Come enjoy a classic 6 hour Paddy Pallin rogaine that is only a short drive from Sydney or Canberra! We’ll be using our navigation skills to explore stunning native forest. There will be plenty of route options for all ages,...

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Belangoloopy – Paddy Pallin Intro Rogain, NSW Rogaining

We share news on topics relevant to our mission of getting people outdoors and protecting the environment. We choose carefully to cover the topics we reckon you’ll find interesting or need to know about, this means quirky stories as well as the hard-hitting ones. We're all human here, so occasionally you'll get our writers' opinions as well. We’re proud to follow our Editorial Standards in every article we publish.