"I've had black and white kids come up to me and say, 'I want to be a vet,' " says Dr. Perkins, who has a young son.
RANDOM ACTS: Black veterinarians serve as role models →
"My first pet I had when I was around 7 or 8," Dr. Perkins says. "It was a parakeet I called Rocky. Animals have been a part of me for as long as I can remember."