Dr. Lorin Lawrence sold the four-doctor practice he spent 30 years building and moved into relief work in Charleston, South Carolina. He can trace his whole career back to a stray gray tabby named Tiger, who wandered into his life at age nine and nudged him toward veterinary medicine by age twelve. Now he splits his caseload between specialty hospitals, a shoestring rescue clinic, and busy general practices, and treats relief work partly as his ticket to keep affording sailboat racing. This profile first ran on Relief Rover, the relief-vet community platform that joined Hound in 2023.

In His Own Words

What inspired you to become a veterinarian?

"I blame it on a stray gray tabby named Tiger, who showed up as a kitten when I was nine. She was one of those sweet, affectionate cats who had a way of comforting me when the kids at school stressed me out. My parents were terrible pet owners, and Tiger never saw the inside of a clinic except to be spayed and, in her old age, euthanized. The vet wasn't great either, but it opened my eyes at age twelve to the possibility."
Dr. Lorin Lawrence

What states are you licensed in, or working toward?

"South Carolina, North Carolina, New York, and Florida."
Dr. Lorin Lawrence

What roles have you had within the veterinary profession?

"The usual history is what I experienced. I volunteered for a small animal clinic one summer in college, and one summer back home at the clinic I mentioned above."
Dr. Lorin Lawrence

How about outside of this industry?

"I was a graduate student in Animal Industry while waiting to reapply to vet school a second time. I was a founding member of a rescue organization in the '90s, and I consulted with the county animal control department on building a new shelter."
Dr. Lorin Lawrence

What made you switch to relief practice?

"Two reasons. First, I felt I still had good practice skills that I had nurtured for 30 years after selling my four-doctor practice. I moved to Charleston, South Carolina, where there is a good market for relief DVMs. Second, I could use a little extra cash, since I have expensive pastimes."
Dr. Lorin Lawrence

What are your favorite things about being a relief vet?

"It is fun to see how other folks have designed their office space, their workflow, and their software, and how they've trained their staff. There is almost universal appreciation from both the staff and the owners. And, of course, without doing locum gigs, I would really miss the patients and their humans."
Dr. Lorin Lawrence

What are your least favorite things about being a relief vet?

"Not being able to follow cases is my biggest frustration."
Dr. Lorin Lawrence

What supplies or equipment do you bring with you on the job?

"A personal stethoscope, 4mm Welch-Allyn cones, EMLA cream, a Kelly forceps, surgery gloves in my size, scrubs, a calculator, sticky notes, and a dry erase pen to draw pictures on tables for clients."
Dr. Lorin Lawrence

What do you look for in a practice when deciding to cover shifts for them?

"They really need to practice current medicine, or close to it. Their staff needs to be able to perform tech tasks, since I prefer not to do them myself. I need time to write up notes on each exam as I go, and I need a real lunch break. In seven years, only one situation has been deficient in the competency department."
Dr. Lorin Lawrence

Have you picked up any unique practice tips while being a relief vet?

"I have three: respect their staff, get them laughing, and bring treats."
Dr. Lorin Lawrence

What is your most memorable relief job?

"There are three. One was as a daytime emergency doctor at a specialty hospital, a very small caseload for me but fascinating specialty cases. Another was at a rescue facility operating on a very thin shoestring budget, seeing indigent clients and one local news anchor. And another was at a large six or seven doctor practice with a well-to-do clientele that said yes to all my recommendations."
Dr. Lorin Lawrence

What advice would you give new relief vets, or someone thinking about becoming one?

"Be appreciative of the staff. Don't leave your medical notes to the end of the day to be written up. Be sensitive to the needs of their clients."
Dr. Lorin Lawrence

What are your hobbies and passions outside of work?

"I love sailing and sailboat racing, bicycling, racquetball, and motorcycles."
Dr. Lorin Lawrence