2024 Westminster Veterinarian of the Year Dr. Treyton Diggs represents the heart of The Westminster Kennel Club with his admirable morals, values, and unwavering dedication to animal welfare. But, his spirit is what drove him to be named Westminster’s first Resident Veterinarian. A champion for animals everywhere, fueled by his passion for education, Dr. Diggs is excited to advocate for animal welfare and The Westminster Kennel Club in his new role. We know and love Dr. Diggs for his commendable commitment to education and the future of the veterinary industry, but who is he?

After reading Dr. Digg’s press releases and bio, I absolutely could not wait to speak with him and learn more. He called me late in the evening, his first available moment after working at his Boutte, Louisiana, clinic all day. Despite his long day, the first thing that stuck out about him was his kindness in tone and speech and willingness to share his story.

When asked to describe himself in one sentence, he responded that at heart, he is a child of the village, grown from the depth of knowledge of the many family members who raised him. Originally from Miami/Miramar, Florida, he attended Tuskegee University, in Tuskegee, Alabama, before settling in Louisiana, acquiring a lifetime of different experiences and mentors. In this, he is a bit of an enigma, driven by the balance of both a young and old mentality, a fusion of those who have surrounded him throughout his life. He also emphasized that he, “won’t ever forget where he came from,” which is clear in his commitment to giving back to his community.

Beyond his position at Westminster and the clinic, Diggs is involved with many other educational programs and nonprofits including the Inner Pup of New Orleans, an initiative focused on making heartworm prevention affordable for low-income families, and the Pen Pals Program at Jackson Correctional Institute in Jackson, Louisiana, where Diggs offers veterinary services to the only prison-based no-kill animal shelter. He is also a youth mentor, committed to educating inner-city youth about the profession of veterinary medicine, animal behavior, and animal health care.

Despite his commitment to animal welfare, Dr. Diggs didn’t come from a purebred dog family. Instead, like many of us, he stumbled into the sport. Working as a “bag boy” at Winn-Dixie in his teens, Diggs helped an older man carry his groceries to the car where he was immediately drawn to the dog boxes in the back, used for transporting hunting dogs. After striking up a conversation, the gentleman invited Diggs to a competition, and they quickly became friends. Together, their relationship spanned generations with the gentleman ultimately becoming a father figure to Diggs. They continued to travel to competitions together until the gentleman passed in 2015, right before Diggs won at the AKC Nationals . As part of his prize, Diggs won a hat, which he laid upon the gentleman’s grave.

When asked what drives him, Diggs mentioned a lesson from a past marketing teacher: find your niche. For him, though, his niche isn’t an industry. Instead, it is his connections. As a people person, his priority is always to build relationships with clients and ensure he remains humble and attainable, never forgetting where he came from. He has dedicated himself to ensuring he always remains open within his community and has an open-door policy at his clinic, allowing any kid with an interest in the veterinary field the opportunity to shadow him. Diggs has taken his passion and turned it into his profession, and he wants to ensure others have the opportunity to do the same.

Diggs’ extraordinary values and love for animals drove his nomination for the 2024 Veterinarian of the Year award, but his charisma led to his selection for the role of Resident Veterinarian. When asked about his experiences at Westminster so far, there was no question as to why he was selected. He described his nomination and ultimate achievement as one of the greatest experiences of his life. For Diggs, the thought of The Westminster Kennel Club selecting a “small-town boy” like him was something he couldn’t even imagine. The award was an unattainable honor, something he would see only on TV, but Diggs’ selection shows that with passion, hard work, and generosity comes great honor and a platform to continue to pay this forward. His experience so far with Westminster has been incredible, and, to him, the organization’s commitment to nonprofit Not One More Vet shows that the Club is interested not only in the dogs but in the people who care for them. As the nonprofit is close to his heart, this makes his work with The Westminster Kennel Club extra meaningful.

When asked about his future, Diggs has no plans of slowing down. Because of his love for teaching, he may eventually turn to the classroom at a veterinary college or become a resource for an organization working on community relations or disease management. He also hopes to continue to give back and work with organizations that have animal welfare at the forefront, like The Westminster Kennel Club.

As the Resident Veterinarian, Dr. Diggs will be furthering his commitment to education, serving as your trusted veterinary authority. He plans to spearhead veterinary outreach, offer tips and tricks, and act as a liaison between The Westminster Kennel Club and you! He can’t wait to continue in his role, and all of us at Westminster are thrilled about this partnership. Dr. Diggs is a true embodiment of the Westminster spirit and an incredible testament to the power of humility and generosity. We cannot wait to see what this new journey has in store for us all.