Polly Taylor graduated with VetMB from Cambridge University in 1976 and worked in general practice before moving to the Cambridge University Veterinary School where she obtained the RCVS DVA. Became chief of anaesthesia at the Animal Health Trust in 1983 and gained her PhD (Cambridge University) in 1987 for her thesis in equine anaesthesia. In 1994 she became University Lecturer and subsequently Reader at the Cambridge University Veterinary School where she was responsible for the clinical anaesthetic service, teaching undergraduates and post graduates and for research in anaesthesia. She became a Diplomate of the European College of Veterinary Anaesthesia in 1995 and was founding President of the College. She has been honoured with a number of awards for her work in anaesthesia and analgesia. Since 2002 she has worked as an independent consultant in anaesthesia, with work ranging from clinical anaesthesia of numerous species and teaching to drug registration, as well as research, particularly in analgesia. She has published numerous papers on anaesthesia and analgesia in many species, particularly horses and cats. Since its inception in 2008 she has been a director of Topcat Metrology Ltd, developing and supplying bespoke nociceptive threshold testing systems for a wide range of animal species. She was a member of the Advisory Council for the Misuse of Drugs (2002-2010) and has continued to be an advocate for the veterinary profession in matters concerning drug legislation. Her most recent activity putting her head above the parapet is to join a growing group showing the profession that overtreatment of animals “just because we can” is often not in their best interests.