When I joined Stoughton Veterinary Service Animal Hospital right after veterinary school, the hospital had been caring for animals at Henry Vilas Zoo for several years. Growing up in nearby Madison, the zoo was always one of my favorite places in town, and one of the many things that inspired me to become a veterinarian. So having the opportunity to be involved with the zoo in any way was a true honor.

Several years into my career at Stoughton, I got the chance of a lifetime – to help transport Sakari, a male polar bear, from the zoo to his new home in Buffalo, New York. Since Sakari was of breeding age, he needed to be relocated to help maintain genetic diversity in the captive polar bear population.

After sedating Sakari, we did a full physical exam and blood work to make sure he was healthy enough for the big move. We then carefully transported him into a big travel crate and hit the road for Buffalo. As the lead veterinarian, I went along for the ride and closely monitored him in case he got agitated. When we arrived, I performed several health checks to ensure he was adjusting to his new home.

Looking back, this was definitely a highlight of my career, and it's a story my kids still like to bring up to their friends! But it also provides an opportunity to talk about conservation and global warming and the impact on these magnificent creatures.

At Stoughton Veterinary Service Animal Hospital our team’s mission is to help animals live a life of health and wellness, whether they're pets or polar bears. And I feel incredibly lucky to have worked with zoo animals, especially ones as big and powerful as Sakari.

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Dr. Watrud is the Managing Veterinarian at NVA’s Stoughton Veterinary Service Animal Hospital. A graduate of the University of Wisconsin School of Veterinary Medicine, he has spent his career caring for pets in Madison and Stoughton, Wisconsin. He has a strong interest in working with exotic species such as birds, reptiles and pocket pets and also treats Stoughton Police Department's K9 unit German Shepherd.