Today, clients want not only a skilled veterinarian but also a doctor who shows kindness and empathy towards them and their pets. Kindness is more than a word, it is a lifestyle, a mission. It’s a mission we’re proud to call our own at CityVet, and we know it is one shared with so many fellow professionals in our community.
We ask you to help us celebrate those who share this commitment to kindness. We have selected the top three Kindest Vet in America winners, who will receive some fantastic prizes for themselves and their practice! Scroll down to read all about what made them a role model in the veterinary community and what they won.
WINNERS
Habitat Veterinary Hospital
Nominated by Brin Neiers, Practice Manager
Dr. Reed Linenberger’s kindness to his patients and clients is only surpassed by his kindness to his team. The past year he, along with our other two owners, purchased a 40-year-old practice from a solo practitioner 3 hours away from his home practice in a mountain community in dire need of additional veterinarians. He has split his time, living sometimes in his camper, so he is available to see patients at our second location and support our teams (despite his family remaining at home). When he is working with a client or patient he is completely focused on their care. He never rushes the conversation or loses patience answering questions. He has seen after-hour emergencies while working on drywall and other construction at our second location. During our quarterly planning meeting, Reed took a phone call from one of our clients and made plans after our meeting (and after driving home from our second location) for their pet’s home euthanasia. He has made sure both our hospital teams maintain work/life balance and provided generous team raises when inflation was at its highest. Our team at our primary location misses him so much that we made “flat Reed” out of his photos (and a tongue depressor) and will send photos of themselves with “Reed” throughout the day. When we need to make a decision our a client, patient, treatment plan, staffing, or really ANYTHING – we ask “What Would Reed Do?” and have even created pins with WWRD to help each other remember to be kind.
He is constantly making space for team members to rise and has made me cry at least twice with random messages about what a strong, capable, invaluable team member and mom I am. When I called him, shortly after the purchase of our second location, to ask him if we could PLEASE sponsor care for the Women and Children’s Alliance’s emotional support animals, he didn’t even hesitate to say yes. He believes in collaboration with cases and is always willing to offer mentorship to our four recent DVM graduates, and never fails to offer support to our established DVMs without an ounce of judgment. If our team is frustrated with a patient’s behavior Reed will quietly remind us how afraid our patient is, and empower us to take the extra time to get creative and create a positive experience for everyone involved. He’s amazing. There’s a hundred more examples I’m sure our team could give. His kindness is endless.
Live Oak Animal Hospital
Nominated by Anna Gibson, Practice Manager
Dr. Wolfe not only dedicates herself to each case and patient in her private practice, but she has also dedicated her time and resources to the community. She has (nearly) single-handedly created a functioning spay/neuter plan for all animals at our municipal shelter by performing DOZENS of their surgeries each week. She also has donated her time and skills to assisting the feral cat population in our community by performing THOUSANDS of spays and neuters for a local TNR program. She has taken steps to get licensure in a neighboring state in order to offer discounted vaccines and spay and neuter vouchers to underserved communities who would not normally have such easy accessibility in their own communities. She has created a program within our clinic to offer discounted services to EVERY rescue within our community in beyond. She volunteers her time in schools and various organizations around our community that are centered around the people in our community as well. She spends her free time doing extra CE to offer the best veterinary care possible. She has also partnered with one of the veterinary schools to become a clinical partner. So, she will be donating her time and resources to train some of the next generation of young veterinarians in their 4th year of vet school.
But on a personal level, she takes it upon herself to build personal relationships with each and every client. She works countless hours in our high-volume practice, but she still can walk into a room and recognize one of her many patients by name, quirks, health conditions, and more. She knows her clients by name and cares about the details of their lives as well. She is committed to caring for this community in every facet. She is a brilliantly skilled veterinarian, but she is an even better human being.
Pawz To Care
Nominated by Megan Padget, Veterinary Technician
Dr. Spohn established Pawz to Care to be able to provide her clients and their pets with personalized medicine. She aims to reduce anxiety and stress on the pets while providing them with a positive experience. Communication is key to high-quality care. We want everyone on the same page when it comes to caring for their family members. We literally “pause to care” and take the extra time needed to make sure everyone gets the attention they deserve. Our appointments range from 45 minutes to an hour so we can gather detailed histories and assist clients in making informed decisions.
All clients receive detailed discharge instructions that include education regarding the pet’s diagnosis. She also works hand-in-hand with local specialists when their expertise is needed. She also works with a feline rescue providing care for the cats until their adoption. If a cat is too ill for adoption, she also provides hospice care. Palliative, hospice, and end-of-life care are also provided.
Pawz to Care also focuses on an excellent work-life balance for the staff. Dr. Spohn ensures that while we enjoy time at work, it doesn’t consume our lives. She provides us with fun team bonding experiences like break-out rooms, game nights, and barbecues in the mountains.
I came to work at Pawz to Care after being in a high-stress specialty clinic. I was on the verge of burnout and considering leaving veterinary medicine. Her fresh outlook and dedication to education enticed me. My family’s quality of life significantly improved since working with Dr. Spohn for the past 3 years. She even encouraged me to transfer from online vet tech school to in-person vet tech school at our local community college. With her support, I graduated at the beginning of May. With 24 years of veterinary experience, I have to say working with Dr. Spohn at Pawz to Care has been a highlight of my career. She truly needs to be recognized for her dedication and compassion.
PRIZES
Congratulations to our 2024 Kindest Veterinarians In America! See what they won!
FIRST PLACE
$1,000 Amazon Gift Card
Winning Vet
$500 Amazon Gift Card
Submitter / Office
SECOND PLACE
$500 Amazon Gift Card
Winning Vet
Keurig Coffee Maker
Submitter / Office
THIRD PLACE
Beats Headphones
Winning Vet
JBL Speaker
Submitter / Office
