{"id":19620,"date":"2026-03-11T07:58:31","date_gmt":"2026-03-11T07:58:31","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/gpbookstore.org\/articles\/uncategorized\/dr-marty-becker-how-facing-his-fears-made-him-a-better-veterinarian\/"},"modified":"2026-04-10T06:08:16","modified_gmt":"2026-04-10T06:08:16","slug":"dr-marty-becker-how-facing-his-fears-made-him-a-better-veterinarian","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/gpbookstore.org\/articles\/positive-living\/friends-and-family\/pets\/dr-marty-becker-how-facing-his-fears-made-him-a-better-veterinarian\/","title":{"rendered":"Dr. Marty Becker: How Facing His Fears Made Him a Better Veterinarian"},"content":{"rendered":"

My dog, QT Pi (\u201cCutie Pie\u201d), tucked his little white paws under his body and trembled in my arms. As a veterinarian<\/a> at VCA North Idaho Animal Hospital, I\u2019m usually the one easing pet parents\u2019 fears, but on that day six years ago, I couldn\u2019t calm my own. Or my dog\u2019s.<\/p>\n

QT Pi is my heart dog, the one who always wants to be by my side. A Chihuahua\u2013Jack Russell\u2013dachshund mix, he is two dogs long and a half dog tall. I\u2019d adopted him<\/a> from a litter of shelter puppies that had distemper. He had spent a week in intensive care at Washington State University College of Veterinary Medicine, my alma mater. Afterward, I had taken care of him at home.<\/p>\n

\"Dr.
As seen in the Aug-Sept
\n 2022 issue of Guideposts<\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Now I\u2019d brought QT Pi to the clinic for the first time. He was there for a dental cleaning, a procedure that required general anesthesia. When I walked in and tried to hand him over to my colleague, he clung to me, panting and shivering. I kissed his nose. \u201cYou\u2019re going to be fine,\u201d I said, wishing he understood. He whimpered as I peeled him away and stepped outside.<\/p>\n

I found myself shaking too, and it wasn\u2019t just that I was anxious because there\u2019s a risk of an adverse reaction anytime an animal is put under anesthesia. The fear that my little dog felt hit me someplace deep inside. What was going on here? I took a slow breath in and out. The last time I felt like this was at that lecture\u2026.<\/p>\n

I\u2019d wanted to be a veterinarian ever since I was a young boy growing up on a dairy farm in Idaho. I graduated from veterinary school<\/a> in 1980 and went into practice in southern Idaho. My career grew. My wife, Teresa, and I moved halfway up a mountain in northern Idaho in 1997, to a horse ranch that we call Almost Heaven Ranch.<\/p>\n

In 1996, I received the wonderful opportunity to become the veterinary correspondent for Good Morning America<\/em>. I joined the team at the Dr. Oz Show<\/em> in 2009.<\/p>\n

I\u2019d been practicing veterinary medicine for almost three decades by then, and I was thinking about retiring. Then at a conference that year, I went to a lecture by famed veterinary behaviorist Dr. Karen Overall. It had been a busy conference, and I was tired. I stood up, thinking I\u2019d slip out early.<\/p>\n

\u201cFear<\/a> is the worst thing a social species can experience,\u201d I heard Dr. Overall say. I stopped short.<\/p>\n

\u201cIt causes permanent damage to the brain.\u201d I turned and sat back down.<\/p>\n

Dr. Overall explained that pets are like one-year-old children. She asked us to imagine being taken against our will, having no control, being unable to escape, feeling pain that we couldn\u2019t understand. \u201cThink back to a time as a child when you felt manhandled, threatened or abused<\/a>,\u201d she said.<\/p>\n

The memories came flooding back, memories I thought I\u2019d put behind me. My two sisters, brother and I were in the car returning home from a trip to the grocery store with our mom. We chanted a little verse we\u2019d made up: \u201cDaddy\u2019s in a huffy puff. Daddy\u2019s in a huffy puff.\u201d<\/p>\n

We were too young to understand, but our father was in the grip of two diseases that would go undiagnosed and untreated until later in his life: alcoholism and bipolar disorder<\/a>. We never knew what kind of state we\u2019d find him in.<\/p>\n

The house was quiet as we unpacked the groceries. I thanked my lucky stars that he was nowhere around. Later that night, as I huddled in my bedroom just off the kitchen, I heard Mom and Dad fighting. Again.<\/p>\n

\u201cOutta my way!\u201d Dad yelled. The angry words escalated. Things crashed, and Mom screamed. I shivered under the covers. \u201cI\u2019m going to kill you!\u201d Dad bellowed. I could feel his rage<\/a> through the thin walls. I was so frightened, I couldn\u2019t move. Mom started crying. A door slammed. The fight was over, for now. But I knew there would be more.<\/p>\n

I\u2019d lived with that fear throughout my childhood. In the car when Dad drove, zipping down dirt roads at a hundred miles an hour while I clung to my seat for dear life. Or when I played in the fields, barely old enough to tie my own shoes, and Dad would push me up onto the driver\u2019s seat of the hay baler, and laugh when I screamed, terrified, because I couldn\u2019t handle the huge machine.<\/p>\n

Traumatic childhood experiences<\/a> can teach resilience. I became a high achiever, striving for top grades in school and, later, for the biggest market share for the veterinary hospitals I owned. I was very competitive and never wanted to show weakness.<\/p>\n

Even in my personal life, I was driven. Teresa and I married in my third year of veterinary school, and we built the stable, happy family I\u2019d longed for as a boy. A pastor friend helped me learn to accept the pain of my past. I came to trust in the love of God<\/a>, the father who would never fail me. My positive, high-energy, can-do self shielded my vulnerabilities so well that I almost forgot I had them.<\/p>\n

Until Dr. Overall\u2019s lecture drew them to the surface again.<\/p>\n

I\u2019d always done my best for my patients. Looking back, however, I hadn\u2019t always recognized the signs of fear<\/a>: shivering, shaking, yawning, panting, salivating, leaning away, glancing at the door, even biting.<\/p>\n

When I\u2019d seen a dog lie perfectly motionless on the exam table, I thought he was calm. Dr. Overall explained that he was likely paralyzed with fear. The way I had been the night I\u2019d heard my dad yelling that he was going to kill my mom. Just recalling it made me feel shaky, as vulnerable as a child<\/a> again.<\/p>\n

If fear still had such a hold on me even though I could talk to a counselor and lean on the comfort of my faith, how must it be for helpless animals? The animals whose suffering I\u2019d promised to prevent and relieve when I took my veterinarian\u2019s oath?<\/p>\n

I had to face the truth: Although I had the best of intentions, there were times I had actually caused my patients trauma. Back in veterinary school in the late 1970s, we didn\u2019t receive training in animals\u2019 emotional well-being. The focus was on their physical health. Even pain management was pretty basic.<\/p>\n

I knew God had nudged me to stay at that lecture for a reason. Genesis says God gave us humans dominion over the fish of the sea and the birds of the air and every living thing that moves upon the earth. He entrusted animals to our protection and care. I wanted to do better by them. \u201cShow me a better way to treat animals<\/a>,\u201d I asked God. \u201cA way free of fear.\u201d<\/p>\n

I couldn\u2019t retire yet. I had more to learn, to do. I talked to and studied the work of veterinary behaviorists. Alleviating fear would improve the well-being of both pets and their people.<\/p>\n

Not only could fear and anxiety in cats and dogs mask other health problems, but these emotions were also at the root of most aggressive behaviors. Behaviors that could destroy the human-animal bond and lead to abandonment, relinquishment or euthanasia.<\/p>\n

I experimented using treats and toys to distract pets from procedures. I researched FAS (fear, anxiety and stress) pheromones, chemical signals animals give off that send a message to others of the same species.<\/p>\n

That\u2019s what QT Pi must have sensed from the other dogs at the clinic entrance,<\/em> I thought now, as I waited for my dear little dog to be done with his dental procedure. He was so bonded to me that he\u2019d picked up on my fear, anxiety and stress too. God was nudging me<\/a> again, as he had at the lecture, reminding me of my vulnerability in order to galvanize me into action. It was time to put my ideas into practice.<\/p>\n

The next week, when QT Pi and I returned to the clinic for his vaccinations, I made sure the outside area was cleaned to remove FAS chemicals and then spritzed with pheromones that would evoke a calming response. Because he\u2019d balked at the front door, I brought in QT Pi through the side door, where he hadn\u2019t formed any unpleasant associations. There was no shivering, no trying to escape!<\/p>\n

In the exam room, he squirmed at the sight of the big metal table, so I set him on the floor and got down beside him. His ears perked, and his tail wagged. I\u2019d brought him in hungry, so he\u2019d respond better to food rewards. As my colleague readied the syringe, I used a can of spray cheese to write \u201cQT Pi\u201d on a bumpy rubber pad called a licky mat. He licked his name off the mat and barely noticed when he got his injection. I hugged him close, and he kissed my face. What a difference!<\/p>\n

From then on, I was committed to implementing my new techniques and teaching them to others. I worked with veterinary behaviorists to enhance the emotional well-being of pets in all aspects of their lives. In 2016, I formally launched the Fear Free<\/a> Certification Program, an online course designed to help veterinary professionals eliminate fear, anxiety and stress and create a more rewarding experience for all.<\/p>\n

Today more than two thirds of all veterinary students graduate Fear Free\u2013certified. Plus, we have Fear Free programs for pet professionals (such as groomers and dog sitters), shelters and pet parents.<\/p>\n

None of this would have happened if God hadn\u2019t put me where I would hear what I needed to hear and feel what I needed to feel. Reliving the pain and fear of my past showed me that vulnerability is a strength<\/a>, not a weakness. It gave me a deeper empathy for and understanding of the animals God has given us to love and care for\u2014animals who, like my QT Pi, love and care for us right back.<\/p>\n

Read Dr. Becker\u2019s Fear Free tips for pet parents<\/strong><\/em><\/a><\/p>\n<\/p>\n

For more inspiring stories, subscribe to <\/em>Guideposts<\/strong><\/a> magazine<\/em>.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

My dog, QT Pi (\u201cCutie Pie\u201d), tucked his little white paws under his body and trembled in my arms. As a veterinarian at VCA North Idaho Animal Hospital, I\u2019m usually the one easing pet parents\u2019 fears, but on that day six years ago, I couldn\u2019t calm my own. Or my dog\u2019s. QT Pi is my […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":28482,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"ep_exclude_from_search":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[191],"tags":[74,52,79,26,51],"ppma_author":[1439],"class_list":["post-19620","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-pets","tag-dogs","tag-fear","tag-healing","tag-hope","tag-inspirational-stories"],"acf":[],"yoast_head":"\nDr. Marty Becker: How Facing His Fears Made Him a Better Veterinarian - Guideposts Articles<\/title>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"noindex, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:locale\" content=\"en_US\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:type\" content=\"article\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:title\" content=\"Dr. Marty Becker: How Facing His Fears Made Him a Better Veterinarian\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:description\" content=\"My dog, QT Pi (\u201cCutie Pie\u201d), tucked his little white paws under his body and trembled in my arms. As a veterinarian at VCA North Idaho Animal Hospital, I\u2019m usually the one easing pet parents\u2019 fears, but on that day six years ago, I couldn\u2019t calm my own. Or my dog\u2019s. QT Pi is my […]\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:url\" content=\"https:\/\/gpbookstore.org\/articles\/positive-living\/friends-and-family\/pets\/dr-marty-becker-how-facing-his-fears-made-him-a-better-veterinarian\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:site_name\" content=\"Guideposts Articles\" \/>\n<meta property=\"article:published_time\" content=\"2026-03-11T07:58:31+00:00\" \/>\n<meta property=\"article:modified_time\" content=\"2026-04-10T06:08:16+00:00\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:image\" content=\"https:\/\/articles.guideposts.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/marty_becker_marquee_0-1.jpg\" \/>\n\t<meta property=\"og:image:width\" content=\"1540\" \/>\n\t<meta property=\"og:image:height\" content=\"866\" \/>\n\t<meta property=\"og:image:type\" content=\"image\/jpeg\" \/>\n<meta name=\"author\" content=\"Dr. Marty Becker\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:card\" content=\"summary_large_image\" \/>\n<script type=\"application\/ld+json\" class=\"yoast-schema-graph\">{\"@context\":\"https:\\\/\\\/schema.org\",\"@graph\":[{\"@type\":\"Article\",\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/gpbookstore.org\\\/articles\\\/positive-living\\\/friends-and-family\\\/pets\\\/dr-marty-becker-how-facing-his-fears-made-him-a-better-veterinarian\\\/#article\",\"isPartOf\":{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/gpbookstore.org\\\/articles\\\/positive-living\\\/friends-and-family\\\/pets\\\/dr-marty-becker-how-facing-his-fears-made-him-a-better-veterinarian\\\/\"},\"author\":{\"name\":\"Neeraj Rai\",\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/gpbookstore.org\\\/articles\\\/#\\\/schema\\\/person\\\/f0862e0bfb5f72f571ea4d005001f0be\"},\"headline\":\"Dr. Marty Becker: How Facing His Fears Made Him a Better Veterinarian\",\"datePublished\":\"2026-03-11T07:58:31+00:00\",\"dateModified\":\"2026-04-10T06:08:16+00:00\",\"mainEntityOfPage\":{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/gpbookstore.org\\\/articles\\\/positive-living\\\/friends-and-family\\\/pets\\\/dr-marty-becker-how-facing-his-fears-made-him-a-better-veterinarian\\\/\"},\"wordCount\":1745,\"commentCount\":0,\"publisher\":{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/gpbookstore.org\\\/articles\\\/#organization\"},\"image\":{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/gpbookstore.org\\\/articles\\\/positive-living\\\/friends-and-family\\\/pets\\\/dr-marty-becker-how-facing-his-fears-made-him-a-better-veterinarian\\\/#primaryimage\"},\"thumbnailUrl\":\"https:\\\/\\\/gpbookstore.org\\\/articles\\\/wp-content\\\/uploads\\\/2026\\\/03\\\/marty_becker_marquee_0-1.jpg\",\"keywords\":[\"Dogs\",\"Fear\",\"healing\",\"Hope\",\"Inspirational Stories\"],\"articleSection\":[\"Pets\"],\"inLanguage\":\"en-US\",\"potentialAction\":[{\"@type\":\"CommentAction\",\"name\":\"Comment\",\"target\":[\"https:\\\/\\\/gpbookstore.org\\\/articles\\\/positive-living\\\/friends-and-family\\\/pets\\\/dr-marty-becker-how-facing-his-fears-made-him-a-better-veterinarian\\\/#respond\"]}]},{\"@type\":\"WebPage\",\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/gpbookstore.org\\\/articles\\\/positive-living\\\/friends-and-family\\\/pets\\\/dr-marty-becker-how-facing-his-fears-made-him-a-better-veterinarian\\\/\",\"url\":\"https:\\\/\\\/gpbookstore.org\\\/articles\\\/positive-living\\\/friends-and-family\\\/pets\\\/dr-marty-becker-how-facing-his-fears-made-him-a-better-veterinarian\\\/\",\"name\":\"Dr. Marty Becker: How Facing His Fears Made Him a Better Veterinarian - Guideposts Articles\",\"isPartOf\":{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/gpbookstore.org\\\/articles\\\/#website\"},\"primaryImageOfPage\":{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/gpbookstore.org\\\/articles\\\/positive-living\\\/friends-and-family\\\/pets\\\/dr-marty-becker-how-facing-his-fears-made-him-a-better-veterinarian\\\/#primaryimage\"},\"image\":{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/gpbookstore.org\\\/articles\\\/positive-living\\\/friends-and-family\\\/pets\\\/dr-marty-becker-how-facing-his-fears-made-him-a-better-veterinarian\\\/#primaryimage\"},\"thumbnailUrl\":\"https:\\\/\\\/gpbookstore.org\\\/articles\\\/wp-content\\\/uploads\\\/2026\\\/03\\\/marty_becker_marquee_0-1.jpg\",\"datePublished\":\"2026-03-11T07:58:31+00:00\",\"dateModified\":\"2026-04-10T06:08:16+00:00\",\"breadcrumb\":{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/gpbookstore.org\\\/articles\\\/positive-living\\\/friends-and-family\\\/pets\\\/dr-marty-becker-how-facing-his-fears-made-him-a-better-veterinarian\\\/#breadcrumb\"},\"inLanguage\":\"en-US\",\"potentialAction\":[{\"@type\":\"ReadAction\",\"target\":[\"https:\\\/\\\/gpbookstore.org\\\/articles\\\/positive-living\\\/friends-and-family\\\/pets\\\/dr-marty-becker-how-facing-his-fears-made-him-a-better-veterinarian\\\/\"]}]},{\"@type\":\"ImageObject\",\"inLanguage\":\"en-US\",\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/gpbookstore.org\\\/articles\\\/positive-living\\\/friends-and-family\\\/pets\\\/dr-marty-becker-how-facing-his-fears-made-him-a-better-veterinarian\\\/#primaryimage\",\"url\":\"https:\\\/\\\/gpbookstore.org\\\/articles\\\/wp-content\\\/uploads\\\/2026\\\/03\\\/marty_becker_marquee_0-1.jpg\",\"contentUrl\":\"https:\\\/\\\/gpbookstore.org\\\/articles\\\/wp-content\\\/uploads\\\/2026\\\/03\\\/marty_becker_marquee_0-1.jpg\",\"width\":1540,\"height\":866},{\"@type\":\"BreadcrumbList\",\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/gpbookstore.org\\\/articles\\\/positive-living\\\/friends-and-family\\\/pets\\\/dr-marty-becker-how-facing-his-fears-made-him-a-better-veterinarian\\\/#breadcrumb\",\"itemListElement\":[{\"@type\":\"ListItem\",\"position\":1,\"name\":\"Home\",\"item\":\"https:\\\/\\\/gpbookstore.org\\\/articles\\\/\"},{\"@type\":\"ListItem\",\"position\":2,\"name\":\"Positive Living\",\"item\":\"https:\\\/\\\/gpbookstore.org\\\/articles\\\/positive-living\\\/\"},{\"@type\":\"ListItem\",\"position\":3,\"name\":\"Friends and Family\",\"item\":\"https:\\\/\\\/gpbookstore.org\\\/articles\\\/positive-living\\\/friends-and-family\\\/\"},{\"@type\":\"ListItem\",\"position\":4,\"name\":\"Pets\",\"item\":\"http:\\\/\\\/gpbookstore.org\\\/articles\\\/positive-living\\\/friends-and-family\\\/pets\\\/\"},{\"@type\":\"ListItem\",\"position\":5,\"name\":\"Dr. Marty Becker: How Facing His Fears Made Him a Better Veterinarian\"}]},{\"@type\":\"WebSite\",\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/gpbookstore.org\\\/articles\\\/#website\",\"url\":\"https:\\\/\\\/gpbookstore.org\\\/articles\\\/\",\"name\":\"Guideposts Articles\",\"description\":\"Strengthening Faith. Providing Hope.\",\"publisher\":{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/gpbookstore.org\\\/articles\\\/#organization\"},\"potentialAction\":[{\"@type\":\"SearchAction\",\"target\":{\"@type\":\"EntryPoint\",\"urlTemplate\":\"https:\\\/\\\/gpbookstore.org\\\/articles\\\/?s={search_term_string}\"},\"query-input\":{\"@type\":\"PropertyValueSpecification\",\"valueRequired\":true,\"valueName\":\"search_term_string\"}}],\"inLanguage\":\"en-US\"},{\"@type\":\"Organization\",\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/gpbookstore.org\\\/articles\\\/#organization\",\"name\":\"Guideposts Articles\",\"url\":\"https:\\\/\\\/gpbookstore.org\\\/articles\\\/\",\"logo\":{\"@type\":\"ImageObject\",\"inLanguage\":\"en-US\",\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/gpbookstore.org\\\/articles\\\/#\\\/schema\\\/logo\\\/image\\\/\",\"url\":\"https:\\\/\\\/gpbookstore.org\\\/articles\\\/wp-content\\\/uploads\\\/2026\\\/01\\\/gp-logo-white.svg\",\"contentUrl\":\"https:\\\/\\\/gpbookstore.org\\\/articles\\\/wp-content\\\/uploads\\\/2026\\\/01\\\/gp-logo-white.svg\",\"caption\":\"Guideposts Articles\"},\"image\":{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/gpbookstore.org\\\/articles\\\/#\\\/schema\\\/logo\\\/image\\\/\"}},{\"@type\":\"Person\",\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/gpbookstore.org\\\/articles\\\/#\\\/schema\\\/person\\\/f0862e0bfb5f72f571ea4d005001f0be\",\"name\":\"Neeraj Rai\",\"image\":{\"@type\":\"ImageObject\",\"inLanguage\":\"en-US\",\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/secure.gravatar.com\\\/avatar\\\/18c0b5a06458f26c764f5a7451f1774cfb282943f2f36a00c9a801809489005c?s=96&d=https%3A%2F%2Fgpbookstore.org%2Farticles%2Fwp-content%2Fthemes%2Fguideposts%2Fassets%2Fimages%2Fdefault-avatar.png&r=gc7d9b87677b7a32d038be4d79f46df21\",\"url\":\"https:\\\/\\\/secure.gravatar.com\\\/avatar\\\/18c0b5a06458f26c764f5a7451f1774cfb282943f2f36a00c9a801809489005c?s=96&d=https%3A%2F%2Fgpbookstore.org%2Farticles%2Fwp-content%2Fthemes%2Fguideposts%2Fassets%2Fimages%2Fdefault-avatar.png&r=g\",\"contentUrl\":\"https:\\\/\\\/secure.gravatar.com\\\/avatar\\\/18c0b5a06458f26c764f5a7451f1774cfb282943f2f36a00c9a801809489005c?s=96&d=https%3A%2F%2Fgpbookstore.org%2Farticles%2Fwp-content%2Fthemes%2Fguideposts%2Fassets%2Fimages%2Fdefault-avatar.png&r=g\",\"caption\":\"Neeraj Rai\"},\"url\":\"https:\\\/\\\/gpbookstore.org\\\/articles\\\/author\\\/neeraj\\\/\"}]}<\/script>\n<!-- \/ Yoast SEO Premium plugin. -->","yoast_head_json":{"title":"Dr. Marty Becker: How Facing His Fears Made Him a Better Veterinarian - Guideposts Articles","robots":{"index":"noindex","follow":"follow","max-snippet":"max-snippet:-1","max-image-preview":"max-image-preview:large","max-video-preview":"max-video-preview:-1"},"og_locale":"en_US","og_type":"article","og_title":"Dr. Marty Becker: How Facing His Fears Made Him a Better Veterinarian","og_description":"My dog, QT Pi (\u201cCutie Pie\u201d), tucked his little white paws under his body and trembled in my arms. As a veterinarian at VCA North Idaho Animal Hospital, I\u2019m usually the one easing pet parents\u2019 fears, but on that day six years ago, I couldn\u2019t calm my own. Or my dog\u2019s. QT Pi is my […]","og_url":"https:\/\/gpbookstore.org\/articles\/positive-living\/friends-and-family\/pets\/dr-marty-becker-how-facing-his-fears-made-him-a-better-veterinarian\/","og_site_name":"Guideposts Articles","article_published_time":"2026-03-11T07:58:31+00:00","article_modified_time":"2026-04-10T06:08:16+00:00","og_image":[{"width":1540,"height":866,"url":"https:\/\/articles.guideposts.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/marty_becker_marquee_0-1.jpg","type":"image\/jpeg"}],"author":"Dr. Marty Becker","twitter_card":"summary_large_image","schema":{"@context":"https:\/\/schema.org","@graph":[{"@type":"Article","@id":"https:\/\/gpbookstore.org\/articles\/positive-living\/friends-and-family\/pets\/dr-marty-becker-how-facing-his-fears-made-him-a-better-veterinarian\/#article","isPartOf":{"@id":"https:\/\/gpbookstore.org\/articles\/positive-living\/friends-and-family\/pets\/dr-marty-becker-how-facing-his-fears-made-him-a-better-veterinarian\/"},"author":{"name":"Neeraj Rai","@id":"https:\/\/gpbookstore.org\/articles\/#\/schema\/person\/f0862e0bfb5f72f571ea4d005001f0be"},"headline":"Dr. Marty Becker: How Facing His Fears Made Him a Better Veterinarian","datePublished":"2026-03-11T07:58:31+00:00","dateModified":"2026-04-10T06:08:16+00:00","mainEntityOfPage":{"@id":"https:\/\/gpbookstore.org\/articles\/positive-living\/friends-and-family\/pets\/dr-marty-becker-how-facing-his-fears-made-him-a-better-veterinarian\/"},"wordCount":1745,"commentCount":0,"publisher":{"@id":"https:\/\/gpbookstore.org\/articles\/#organization"},"image":{"@id":"https:\/\/gpbookstore.org\/articles\/positive-living\/friends-and-family\/pets\/dr-marty-becker-how-facing-his-fears-made-him-a-better-veterinarian\/#primaryimage"},"thumbnailUrl":"https:\/\/gpbookstore.org\/articles\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/marty_becker_marquee_0-1.jpg","keywords":["Dogs","Fear","healing","Hope","Inspirational Stories"],"articleSection":["Pets"],"inLanguage":"en-US","potentialAction":[{"@type":"CommentAction","name":"Comment","target":["https:\/\/gpbookstore.org\/articles\/positive-living\/friends-and-family\/pets\/dr-marty-becker-how-facing-his-fears-made-him-a-better-veterinarian\/#respond"]}]},{"@type":"WebPage","@id":"https:\/\/gpbookstore.org\/articles\/positive-living\/friends-and-family\/pets\/dr-marty-becker-how-facing-his-fears-made-him-a-better-veterinarian\/","url":"https:\/\/gpbookstore.org\/articles\/positive-living\/friends-and-family\/pets\/dr-marty-becker-how-facing-his-fears-made-him-a-better-veterinarian\/","name":"Dr. Marty Becker: How Facing His Fears Made Him a Better Veterinarian - Guideposts Articles","isPartOf":{"@id":"https:\/\/gpbookstore.org\/articles\/#website"},"primaryImageOfPage":{"@id":"https:\/\/gpbookstore.org\/articles\/positive-living\/friends-and-family\/pets\/dr-marty-becker-how-facing-his-fears-made-him-a-better-veterinarian\/#primaryimage"},"image":{"@id":"https:\/\/gpbookstore.org\/articles\/positive-living\/friends-and-family\/pets\/dr-marty-becker-how-facing-his-fears-made-him-a-better-veterinarian\/#primaryimage"},"thumbnailUrl":"https:\/\/gpbookstore.org\/articles\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/marty_becker_marquee_0-1.jpg","datePublished":"2026-03-11T07:58:31+00:00","dateModified":"2026-04-10T06:08:16+00:00","breadcrumb":{"@id":"https:\/\/gpbookstore.org\/articles\/positive-living\/friends-and-family\/pets\/dr-marty-becker-how-facing-his-fears-made-him-a-better-veterinarian\/#breadcrumb"},"inLanguage":"en-US","potentialAction":[{"@type":"ReadAction","target":["https:\/\/gpbookstore.org\/articles\/positive-living\/friends-and-family\/pets\/dr-marty-becker-how-facing-his-fears-made-him-a-better-veterinarian\/"]}]},{"@type":"ImageObject","inLanguage":"en-US","@id":"https:\/\/gpbookstore.org\/articles\/positive-living\/friends-and-family\/pets\/dr-marty-becker-how-facing-his-fears-made-him-a-better-veterinarian\/#primaryimage","url":"https:\/\/gpbookstore.org\/articles\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/marty_becker_marquee_0-1.jpg","contentUrl":"https:\/\/gpbookstore.org\/articles\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/marty_becker_marquee_0-1.jpg","width":1540,"height":866},{"@type":"BreadcrumbList","@id":"https:\/\/gpbookstore.org\/articles\/positive-living\/friends-and-family\/pets\/dr-marty-becker-how-facing-his-fears-made-him-a-better-veterinarian\/#breadcrumb","itemListElement":[{"@type":"ListItem","position":1,"name":"Home","item":"https:\/\/gpbookstore.org\/articles\/"},{"@type":"ListItem","position":2,"name":"Positive Living","item":"https:\/\/gpbookstore.org\/articles\/positive-living\/"},{"@type":"ListItem","position":3,"name":"Friends and Family","item":"https:\/\/gpbookstore.org\/articles\/positive-living\/friends-and-family\/"},{"@type":"ListItem","position":4,"name":"Pets","item":"http:\/\/gpbookstore.org\/articles\/positive-living\/friends-and-family\/pets\/"},{"@type":"ListItem","position":5,"name":"Dr. Marty Becker: How Facing His Fears Made Him a Better Veterinarian"}]},{"@type":"WebSite","@id":"https:\/\/gpbookstore.org\/articles\/#website","url":"https:\/\/gpbookstore.org\/articles\/","name":"Guideposts Articles","description":"Strengthening Faith. Providing Hope.","publisher":{"@id":"https:\/\/gpbookstore.org\/articles\/#organization"},"potentialAction":[{"@type":"SearchAction","target":{"@type":"EntryPoint","urlTemplate":"https:\/\/gpbookstore.org\/articles\/?s={search_term_string}"},"query-input":{"@type":"PropertyValueSpecification","valueRequired":true,"valueName":"search_term_string"}}],"inLanguage":"en-US"},{"@type":"Organization","@id":"https:\/\/gpbookstore.org\/articles\/#organization","name":"Guideposts Articles","url":"https:\/\/gpbookstore.org\/articles\/","logo":{"@type":"ImageObject","inLanguage":"en-US","@id":"https:\/\/gpbookstore.org\/articles\/#\/schema\/logo\/image\/","url":"https:\/\/gpbookstore.org\/articles\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/gp-logo-white.svg","contentUrl":"https:\/\/gpbookstore.org\/articles\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/gp-logo-white.svg","caption":"Guideposts Articles"},"image":{"@id":"https:\/\/gpbookstore.org\/articles\/#\/schema\/logo\/image\/"}},{"@type":"Person","@id":"https:\/\/gpbookstore.org\/articles\/#\/schema\/person\/f0862e0bfb5f72f571ea4d005001f0be","name":"Neeraj Rai","image":{"@type":"ImageObject","inLanguage":"en-US","@id":"https:\/\/secure.gravatar.com\/avatar\/18c0b5a06458f26c764f5a7451f1774cfb282943f2f36a00c9a801809489005c?s=96&d=https%3A%2F%2Fgpbookstore.org%2Farticles%2Fwp-content%2Fthemes%2Fguideposts%2Fassets%2Fimages%2Fdefault-avatar.png&r=gc7d9b87677b7a32d038be4d79f46df21","url":"https:\/\/secure.gravatar.com\/avatar\/18c0b5a06458f26c764f5a7451f1774cfb282943f2f36a00c9a801809489005c?s=96&d=https%3A%2F%2Fgpbookstore.org%2Farticles%2Fwp-content%2Fthemes%2Fguideposts%2Fassets%2Fimages%2Fdefault-avatar.png&r=g","contentUrl":"https:\/\/secure.gravatar.com\/avatar\/18c0b5a06458f26c764f5a7451f1774cfb282943f2f36a00c9a801809489005c?s=96&d=https%3A%2F%2Fgpbookstore.org%2Farticles%2Fwp-content%2Fthemes%2Fguideposts%2Fassets%2Fimages%2Fdefault-avatar.png&r=g","caption":"Neeraj Rai"},"url":"https:\/\/gpbookstore.org\/articles\/author\/neeraj\/"}]}},"authors":[{"term_id":1439,"user_id":0,"is_guest":1,"slug":"dr-marty-becker","display_name":"Dr. Marty Becker","avatar_url":"https:\/\/secure.gravatar.com\/avatar\/?s=96&d=https%3A%2F%2Fgpbookstore.org%2Farticles%2Fwp-content%2Fthemes%2Fguideposts%2Fassets%2Fimages%2Fdefault-avatar.png&r=g","0":null,"1":"","2":"","3":"","4":"","5":"","6":"","7":"","8":""}],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/gpbookstore.org\/articles\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/19620","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/gpbookstore.org\/articles\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/gpbookstore.org\/articles\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/gpbookstore.org\/articles\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/gpbookstore.org\/articles\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=19620"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/gpbookstore.org\/articles\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/19620\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/gpbookstore.org\/articles\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/28482"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/gpbookstore.org\/articles\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=19620"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/gpbookstore.org\/articles\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=19620"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/gpbookstore.org\/articles\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=19620"},{"taxonomy":"author","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/gpbookstore.org\/articles\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/ppma_author?post=19620"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}