My friend and former student Michelle gave me the green light yesterday.
As a family pet owner, I've waited for about two years to tell folks that Michelle is starting an urgent care hospital for pets.
Locals driving HWY 95 into Ponderay just past Co-Op may have noticed that the former Chinese Restaurant north of the country store is undergoing a remake.
Soon, (no set date yet) its doors will open for family pet emergencies.
Dr. Michelle Ward has been sharing with me information about her vision for some time.
In between her day job---which actually happens at night in the Spokane area at an emergency vet hospital---Michelle has been laying the groundwork for the new hospital set to serve this area. That has meant attracting other veterinary professionals to the area, finding the funding and, of course, securing a venue.
BTW: she's a very busy veterinarian because she also volunteers for World Vets, an amazing organization started by another Sandpoint High grad turned veterinarian Dr. Cathy King.
Check out the website.
In fact, Michelle just returned from a trip to Guatemala where she and a team of World Vet volunteers cared for and sterilized several hundred dogs and cats.
I have marveled over the years at Michelle's enthusiasm toward her career and toward animals in general. In addition to her professional work, she has cared for a variety of interesting species in her own home.
As you'll read, practicing veterinary medicine fulfilled a lifelong dream for Michelle, and once she became a veterinarian, the vision of this clinic became the dream.
It's about to come true. Stay tuned for upcoming information as the hospital takes shape and when it opens its doors.
Congratulations and thank you, Michelle.
You are not only fulfilling your dream but providing a much-needed service for this community of devoted pet lovers.
Family Pet Urgent Care
An idea in the making since my graduation from Vet School 2009
Michelle Ward, DVM
I’ve wanted to be a veterinarian since I was 8. A Bonner County library card was often used for checking out books for me on cow diseases, and Dr. John Moody was seeing me every month for about three years, asking for a job at his clinic up on North 5th just past ServaBurger where the Food Bank was later located.
Fast forward many years.
I graduated from veterinary school at 42 and moved close to home, wanting to make a difference, solve problems, help my community, and continue to make lifelong connections.
Being a people pleaser and lover of animals is a recipe for remaining busy and never out of a job. It will feed your soul and drain you all at the same time.
The veterinary profession has changed for the good. Working endless hours, being available to every client, neighbor, friend, family member, stranger, stray and wild animal takes its toll, all in the name of loving the job and not saying “no” ….EVER.
"Ol' Doc So and So" being available 24-7 for 365 days a year is no longer the definition of a good veterinarian.
Veterinary medicine has been evolving, becoming more and more like human medicine. This is a good thing.
Nowadays, there are many layers of medicine, of care, of long-term care, of treatment options and medications, and of how the strength of the human-animal bond plays a huge role in these levels.
Our pets are our family members.
They aren’t just working for us providing free labor, food or an income. They are living longer lives along with us because of how Veterinary Medicine has changed.
The profession has evolved into a profession where referral for alternate care options, more diagnostic tests, treatment plans, alternative modalities for treatment, and choices about how and when care can be available for your furry family member are available.
Your family veterinarian can no longer be there 24-7 for 365 days a year. They can’t be. They shouldn’t be expected to be. It’s unrealistic and it has led to burnout.
This is why Urgent Care and Veterinary Emergency hospitals were born.
They fill a need and work as a team with other veterinary colleagues and fur family members to offer continuity of care when your family veterinarian is not available or when they are booked solid, taking care of other community members animals.
These institutions are there for when there is just not enough time in the day to “fit you in.”
Fitting you in means that someone goes without lunch, someone doesn’t get to have a break or to leave on time or another pet goes without care or is turned away.
Life is busy. Things happen. There just isn’t enough time in the day to get it all done.
I have wanted to do this since graduation. We need it. Our community needs it. The local veterinarians need it. Some things just cannot wait days for an appointment.
This is why Family Pet Urgent Care/Emergency will be there for you.
I look forward to serving my community and
assisting my veterinary colleagues whenever I can as part of the veterinary
health-care team.
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