Thanks in advance for any nudges! I'm a 52yr old with 25yrs experience as a veterinary specialist and have already experienced compassion fatigue/burn out/depression/physical exhaustion as many other ER vets have), and am now semi-retired by starting my own veterinary consulting company (myself and my spouse only, no other employees). I am now 5 years into earning to give (GWWC pledge signed, giving ~$40k USD/yr, expected to continue this for ~10-15yrs). My life goal is to end factory farming. My question: Is there a monetary amount that you would say is "enough" that it would justify continuing to earn to give, rather than investing time in skills development/training to start a not-for-profit or volunteer part or full time in an aligned field? Thanks for providing us (via Magda's post) with the Probably Good's profile on veterinary medicine. I am quite certain that from a mental health perspective, I do not want to spend my time fighting with US policy-makers who support the carnistic approach to our US food system, nor am I willing to immerse myself in research to improve slaughter methods, but possibly could help increase enrichment/happiness for animals who are trapped within the system. I am reluctant to become an employee again (unless for my own organization), but maybe this is just a cop-out, as I'm used to working relatively little (earing ~$400k/yr working ~20hrs/wk). I have extra time to give, but don't want to spend it doing something less impactful (it feels risky making a transition). Since career advice is appropriately heavily focused on those finishing school and in their early career trajectory, advice focused on us oldies and even retired folks with loads of career capital to volunteer, and loads of cash to offload, your advice may be particularly impactful! Also, a big hello to other vets in this AMA :)

Animals are suffering and they deserve as much or more help than we give to other humans. They demonostrate no malice, hatred, jealousy, they only wish to survive. How we care for them reflects how we care for other humans. 

I'm so sorry that you had to witness that death and take any part in it. I had a similar mouse trap ("humane" trap but it caught the little guy or gal's tail and it ended up dying :( - my fault, of course, but didn't mean to harm him/her, only to relocate them). It seems impossible to not see that there is stress, pain and suffering there, which I am not mentioning to make you feel worse, and I apologize if I bring it up, but that you sound like an empathetic person in dealing with this little mouse, and the world could learn so much from you and your caring. Thank you for euthanizing your mouse. It was probably one of the hardest things you will have to do. So sorry.