The suicide rate among U-S veterinarians is four times the rate for the population at large. Tom Flanigan reports the mother of a Tallahassee vet who died by suicide is honoring his memory with a veterinary scholarship foundation.
Veterinarians love animals, so it's not surprising that Tallahassee vet Jeff Godbey was reluctant to end the lives of his four-legged patients.
"He would quite often would have owners who were asking to have their animals put down, he would have them sign over the animals to him and he'd rehome them or take them home."
Godbey's mother Cyndi began the Jeffrey Bear Foundation in honor of her son, who died by suicide in 2019. Each year, it gives thousand-dollar scholarships to F-S-U and FAMU veterinary medicine students. Next week, she says a pet portrait calendar sale will support that effort.
"He was always making jokes, making things funny, he'd walk into a room and just kind of take over. And I think they've captured that spirit with this calendar."
The big reveal of which local pets made it onto the calendar happens at The Wilbury on Gaines Street the evening of November 7th.
