Vet Spotlight

Click here to nominate your vet for spotlight. Nominations received by the 3rd Sunday of each month will be considered at staff meeting 3rd Monday of month. Determinations made at board meeting 3rd Wednesday of month.

Vet Spotlight on Dr Lee Ann McGill and Dr Neisje Langston

BARC! Spotlights Only Gulf Shores Veterinary Clinic

The Baldwin County Humane Society (BARC!) had the honor of recognizing the outstanding veterinarians at Gulf Shores’ only clinic during a plaque presentation to Dr Lee Ann McGill and Dr Neisje Langston held May 6, 2011.

For 22 years, Dr McGill has been providing veterinary care, boarding and grooming services to BARC’s adoptable dogs and cats at Magnolia by the Gulf Animal Clinic in Gulf Shores and her Foley clinic, Magnolia Small Animal Clinic. In 2006, Dr Neisje Langston joined her staff.

Lou Ausman, BARC! Board Member, remarked “Dr Langston is amazing with administering the heartworm treatments to our rescued dogs. She is essential to our transport and dog adoption programs.”

“BARC! saves dogs from a Baldwin County high-rate kill shelters and transports them to furever homes throughout the New England area including Canada” added Beverly Hicks, BARC! Transport and Dog Adoption Coordinator. “Drs McGill and Langston make sure the dogs are spayed/neutered, current on vaccinations and have an interstate health certificate so they’re eligible for transport.”

Dr McGill’s annual fundraisers Paws Meet Claus pet portraits at the Foley vet clinic and Mystic Krewe of K9 Kritters at the Gulf Shores vet clinic have raised thousands of dollars for BARC! to rescue, rehabilitate and rehome animals.

The Baldwin County Humane Society (BARC!) is a 501(c)3 non-profit established in 1979; they were the county’s first animal advocacy group. BARC! is an adoption agency, rather than a shelter, whose goal is to eliminate the number of abused and abandoned pets through spay/neuter, education, rescue and adoption.

Attending the plaque presentation were, back row from left: Sonja Presley, BARC! Executive Director; Dr Lee Ann McGill; Dr Neisje Langston; Linda Brokaw, BARC! Board Member. Front: Tracy Holiday, past BARC! Board President, with Callie and Berkley and Beverly Hicks, BARC! Transport and Dog Adoption Coordinator with adoptables Bogey and Petey. Photo and video courtesy of Sherry Stimpson Frost.

Vet Clinic who Performed Most Spay/Neuter Surgeries in 2010

BARC! Honors Vet Clinic who Performed Most Spay/Neuter Surgeries in 2010

Dogs and cats can’t read or write, but they sure can multiply. In order to minimize pet over-population and reduce euthanasia as a means of animal control, pet owners are encouraged to spay/neuter.

One of the missions of the Baldwin County Humane Society (BARC!) is to alleviate the over-population of dogs and cats within Baldwin County. BARC! is the only agency providing a discount spay/neuter program for Baldwin County residents who rescue or adopt a homeless animal.

Cats average three litters a year which makes the offspring pyramid 67; dogs average multiple litters which makes the offspring pyramid 103 according to SPAY USA. That overloads local shelters resulting in euthanasias. Animal Control Statistics for the US in 2009 showed that it costs an average of over $270 to house, kill and dispose of an animal. BARC’s discount spay/neuter program saves the taxpayers money by decreasing euthanasias at local shelters.

In 2010, BARC! sold 1,804 vouchers to Baldwin County residents to get their dogs and cats fixed. At their recent annual meeting, BARC! recognized the veterinary clinic who performed the most spay/neuter surgeries in 2010 -- Dr Ron Schindler with Eastern Shore Pet Hospital in Fairhope with 325.

“We commend all 42 veterinarians at the 29 clinics who accept reduced fees through our spay/neuter voucher program” remarked Deneen Balistere, BARC! Vice President. “We are all united in the goal of bringing an end to pet overpopulation in Baldwin County.”

BARC’s voucher program is funded by the generosity of individuals, foundations and other grantors.

Pictured, from left: Sonja Presley, BARC! Executive Director; Dr Ron Schindler, Eastern Shore Pet Hospital and Deneen Balistere, BARC! Vice President. Photo courtesy of Stephen Savage.

VET SPOTLIGHT: Dr Babette Dixon by Brittany Beaupree, BARC! Media Volunteer

Babette Dixon, DVM, was nominated for Vet Spotlight because of time she takes out of her personal life to assist sheltered animals. She has been with Bay Animal Clinic at 24060 US Highway 98 in Montrose since 1991 -- this is her one and only job.

Once a month, Dr. Dixon spends her weekend at a local shelter, volunteering her time to give low cost rabies vaccinations to those who need it. A normal vaccination costs $13.75, for just the shot, not including the usual check-up. But with Dr. Dixon’s volunteering services, a shot only costs the owner $10. Most of the money that is gained from this service is given to the local shelters to help pay for necessary tests and treatments for illnesses such as kennel cough, which can be wide spread among shelter animals.

“I can’t imagine doing anything else,” Dr. Dixon replied when she was asked why she volunteers. “It isn’t only for the animals, but the people who love those animals as well.”

Dr. Dixon saw a need in the community, and she fills that need with an open heart and great compassion. She does her best to provide for animals, promote vet visits for good health, and help in any way she can.

BARC! is pleased to spotlight a very special veterinarian that has been providing great service and assistance to us since 2006. Presenting the plaque to Dr Dixon is Sonja Presley, Executive Director.

VET SPOTLIGHT JULY 2010 -- DR CRAIG MORGAN

The Baldwin County Humane Society (BARC!) recognized Dr Craig Morgan, DVM, as Vet Spotlight for July 2010. Morgan was chosen for his exemplary devotion and concern for animals in Baldwin County and for promoting responsible pet ownership with low-cost spay/neuter surgeries since 1997.

Customers remarked how compassionate he is, often greeting them in the parking lot to carry in their ill pet. His office cat “Stump” is a rescue from the hotel down the street. Someone started their car and cut-off the cat’s leg. Dr Morgan performed surgery and since the person was just visiting, kept the cat.

Morgan graduated from Auburn University College of Veterinary Medicine in 1996; he initially did relief veterinary work rotating between clinics in Baldwin County.

In 1997 he opened Lake Forest Animal Clinic in Daphne for small animal medicine, surgery and boarding. Morgan immediately affiliated with BARC; over the years, he has helped rescue, rehabilitate and rehome hundreds of dogs and cats.

He is dedicated to bringing an end to pet overpopulation and is a participating vet in BARC’s low-cost spay/neuter programs which save taxpayers money by decreasing euthanasias at local shelters.

Morgan humbly described himself as being the “Yes Man” at Lake Forest Animal Clinic. He credits his staff: Dr Susan Benefield, DVM; Linda English, Kennel Manager; Stephanie Simmons, Kennel Assistant; Bonnie Jacobs and Samantha Perry, vet techs; Susan Ben, Jenny Glover and Leslie Leachman, receptionists.

Morgan was born in Sacramento, CA; the Air Force moved his family to Hartford, CT; Prattville, AL and Stuttgart, Germany. He speaks 4 languages as a result of his travels.

In his leisure, Morgan coaches every youth sport that his 3 children play on. He plays a variety of musical instruments including trumpet, piano, acoustic guitar and is learning the Aborigine Didgeridoo. He’s a season ticket holder to Auburn football games.

Presenting the plaque to Dr Morgan is Sonja Presley, Executive Director. Photo courtesy of Ashley Hollinger.

VET SPOTLIGHT JUNE 2010 -- DR LARRY WISE

The Baldwin County Humane Society (BARC!) recognized Dr Larry Wise, DVM, for performing the most spay/neuter surgeries during their fourth annual Spring Kitten Prevention (SKP) program.

BARC! sold 500 SKP vouchers at an extremely low price of $20 each so Baldwin County residents could spay/neuter their cats. The SKP prevented 20,569 kittens, saving the taxpayers money by decreasing euthanasia's at local shelters.

Dr Wise, along with the other 21 vets who participated in the SKP, are dedicated to bringing an end to pet overpopulation.

Wise graduated from Auburn University College of Veterinary Medicine in 1993; his first job was in Tuscaloosa. In 1995 he began practicing at All Health Pet Care in Fairhope.

In his leisure, Wise coaches youth sports, reads 100 books a year (most recently Randy Wayne Wright) and is a gourmet cook.

Presenting the plaque to Dr Wise is Sonja Presley, Executive Director.