What is Little Vets? Program Overview
VEG Little Vets is an exciting, hands-on program that teaches young children all about the world of ER veterinary medicine. Through weekly classes taught by real VEG doctors, kids ages 7-9, will learn how to use actual ER tools and medical equipment to diagnose and treat their very own pretend patients.
Each session focuses on a different topic—from bones and blood to physical exams and surgery—and uses photos and videos of real patients and surgeries, true case studies, and interactive games and activities to show what actually happens in the ER. It’s a fun and educational way for little vets in the making to learn what it’s really like to be an animal doctor—from someone who does it (and loves it!) every day.
Photos & Videos
of Real Patients
True Client
Case Studies
Interactive Games
& Activities
VEG Little Vets Collaborators
One day they're ER doctors, the next they're Little Vets teachers!
These awesome VEG doctors bring their real-life experience to Little Vets, inspiring kids through their passion and excitement for ER veterinary medicine.
Dr. David Bessler is the founder and CEO of VEG. He’s also an emergency doctor who loves being a hero to people and their pets when they need it most. Beyond helping customers, his favorite thing about VEG is the fun everyone has when they’re together. He lives in White Plains, NY, with his family, which includes Ferris, a Chihuahua mix, and Nico, a bearded dragon.
Lauryn Benson has been a medical director at VEG for three and a half years. She can’t imagine another field as rewarding as veterinary emergency—when she can help animals and their people it’s the best feeling in the world! She loves working at VEG because of the amazing culture and how fun is always celebrated—and encouraged! She lives in Melville, NY, with Boo, her 14-year-old Black Lab mix.
Brooke Butler is VEG’s VP of Talent. In her five years at VEG, she has also worked as an emergency doctor and loves how vets are like detectives, putting together pieces of the puzzle to figure out what’s wrong with their patients. She also loves the transparency and openness of VEG, and how keeping people and their pets together helps us connect with customers. Brooke lives in New York, NY, with Sugar, her Border Collie mix.
Jonathan Grindley has been a medical director at VEG for two and a half years. He loves how his job allows him to help creatures who can't speak for themselves and support the human/animal bond. He loves how VEG is disrupting the industry and challenging the way we approach veterinary medicine and workplace culture. Jonathan lives in Brooklyn, NY, with his English Pointer, Nutmeg.
Monica Sterk is an area medical director in the Northeast region and has been at VEG for four years. As a vet, she loves being able to help sick animals in need and comfort their families. As a VEG vet, she loves how we keep people and their pets together! Monica lives in Nanuet with her perfect dachshund/terrier mix, Schnitzel, and cats Delaware and California.
Bethany Weinheimer has been at VEG for two years as the West Coast area medical director. She loves being a vet because she’s able to help and save the lives of animals when no one else can. Her favorite part about VEG is that customers get to stay with their pets throughout their entire visit—which allows pet owners to value and appreciate what veterinarians do and keeps their pets feeling safe and comfortable. Bethany has a Chocolate Lab named Zeba.
Joelle Stingone is a veterinary nursing development manager and has been at VEG for two years. She loves collaborating with her team to manage cases and using her emergency and critical care skills to help her patients. Her favorite thing about VEG is how they support their people so they can grow personally and professionally. She lives in Yorktown Heights, NY, with her cat, Lotus, and leopard gecko, Prada.
How Little Vets Got Started
For more than ten years, VEG founder and CEO, Dr. David Bessler, has been teaching a Little Vets class to young children at the American Museum of Natural History. He makes sure it isn't your average kids' program - children don't just hear about what happens in the ER, they experience it - blood, guts, and all!
After seeing how well kids respond to the class (even the gross stuff!), and how it helps parents give their children a fun and memorable way to experience veterinary medicine, we decided to expand Little Vets to a broader audience. Now, with the help of real, local VEG doctors, VEG Little Vets can reach more kids who are curious about veterinary medicine - and we can inspire the next generation to help people and their pets when they need it most!