Veterinarian Named Westminster Kennel Club’s First Black Veterinarian Of The Year
July 1, 2024
According to the most recent data available from the Bureau of Labor Statistics, only 2.2% of Veterinarians in America are Black.
Dr. Treyton Diggs was selected as the 2024 Veterinarian of the Year by the Westminster Kennel Club, marking two firsts. Diggs becomes the first Black Veterinarian as well as the first Louisianan to win the award, which was created in 2021 to honor the work of veterinarians in their communities. Diggs was selected for the honor due to his “values, dedication, and moral compass in animal care.”
As 4WWL reports, Diggs appreciates the honor, but directed the credit to his staff. “I am truly humbled and honored to have been selected for such a prestigious award from The Westminster Kennel Club, which significantly highlights my career and who I strive to be personally and professionally,” said Dr. Diggs. “I share this award with my amazing colleagues who stand shoulder-to-shoulder with me in making a difference, and validating the impact of veterinary medicine while simultaneously teaching our children and students that dreams accompanied with dedication, perseverance, and grit can become a reality.”
Axios reports that Diggs graduated from Tuskegee University, which is one of the few HBCUs with a veterinary medicine school. The Bureau of Labor Statistics’ most recent data shows that only 2.2% of veterinarians in America are Black.
Shows like National Geographic’s Critter Fixers, which follows Black vets Dr. Vernard Hodges and Dr. Terrance Ferguson, and Animal Planet’s The Vet Life, featuring Dr. Diarra Blue, highlight the success of Black veterinarians. Despite these positive representations and the national Vet for a Day program by Dr. Hodges and Dr. Ferguson, which introduces teenagers to veterinary medicine, the statistics for Black veterinarians remain low.
According to Ferguson’s estimate, the pair have helped 63 veterinarians from diverse backgrounds get into veterinary programs. He noted that when he was young, he didn’t have access to when programs such as Vet for a Day. He told the Atlanta Journal-Constitution, “When I was young, I didn’t see a Black veterinarian, so I said, ‘You know what? I want to let kids know that it does not matter what color you are, it doesn’t matter if you’re handicapped. Whatever your restrictions are, you can become one — even if you don’t see it.’”
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