Barksdale animal clinic serves best friends and co-workers

  • Published
  • By Airman 1st Class Samuel O'Brien
  • 2nd Bomb Wing Public Affairs
BARKSDALE AIR FORCE BASE, La. --  A pet getting loose is a hazard every animal owner has to deal with. A pet getting hit by a car is a rarer and much more serious prospect. It happened to one Barksdale family dog just a few weeks ago. There wasn't time to get the dog to an off-base animal hospital. Luckily for that pooch and his family, the vet clinic on Barksdale was equipped to handle the situation.
Typically crisis situations are left to be handled by civilian veterinary hospitals, but if there isn't an opportunity for people to get their four-legged-friends off base, the staff at the clinic is equipped to handle those situations.

"We provide top quality care to military service members and the retiree community. We offer lower cost quality care for their pets that they don't have to leave base to find," said Michael Bridges, Barksdale's animal health technician and a 20-year retired Army veterinary technician.

The vet covers a wide range of procedures ranging from the routine vaccinations and dental cleanings, to the more complicated spays and neuters. Occasionally they even face true crisis situation, like an accident.

The animals that come in start with a checkup similar to a human patient. Heartbeats are checked and temperatures are taken. Some patients are calm, some are a bit skittish, but all will get a dose of 'pre-meds' to calm them down before their respective procedures take place.

Nitro, a Labrador Retriever, gets a small square of fur shaved off his back and takes his first shot like a champ. Baby, a Chihuahua in to get spayed, is medicated enough by the time of her surgery that it doesn't seem to matter.

The spaying is a relatively quick process. It takes about 15 minutes and leaves very little scarring.

"When we're done, we put a small tattoo on the animal, so if it changes hands or someone finds the dog, they can tell the animal has been fixed before they try to bring it in," Veterinary Technician Megan Weddle explains.

"I know working closely with the vet I can trust them to work on my family dogs because I see what kind of work they do for us on our working dogs," said Staff Sergeant Clayton Tebbetts, one of Barksdale's military dog handlers. "There's no different between the service we receive between our pets and working dogs. The vet staff is truly dedicated."

The clinic specializes in maintaining the healthy lives of animals, but at the same time, it's improving the lives of people. This place is something of a teaching hospital as well. Dr. Darrin Olson, the one true veterinarian on staff, says the clinic receives at least 20 requests a year from people wanting to volunteer their time in hopes of pursuing work in the field. The clinic currently boasts a staff of all experience levels.

"You're not a vet tech because you like the money. You're a vet tech because you like to do it," said veterinary technician student Megan Weddle, noting that working with animals is something that is a passion more than a job. "I love animals. I have four dogs."

"I've always gotten along with animals," operations clerk Sarah Lammers smiled. "They're part of nature, they're innocent. That's why I love them."

One of the most experienced employees is Jennifer Smith. She's a veterinary technician who's been working in the clinic for three years. She understands the nature of the business. She's worked reception, lab, surgery, clerk and pretty much any other position that exists in the clinic.

"I'm kind of a jack of all trades," she said. "We all are. You just do what needs to be done around here."

That kind of flexibility allows this facility to take on eager workers with little to no experience and still keep its important work running smoothly.

The vet team is tasked with not only caring for the best friends of Barksdale's Airmen, but also those serving as their duty partners. The clinic maintains a strong relationship with the military working dog program. They provide the highest level of care and perform regular checkups for all of the canines working on base.

"The military working dogs are our main mission," said Bridges. "They're our main reason for being here. We've been in here in the middle of the night with the working dogs before."
For some, those late nights might be a problem, but coming from the dedicated professionals of the vet clinic, it's not a complaint.

"The relationship is awesome. We get anything we need from them and vice versa. It really works out."

It's likely the next time someone mentions a clinic, thoughts will turn to the clinic that Airmen go to for their own healthcare. But not far away there is a much smaller building, tucked away not far from the shopette, serving an entirely different Barksdale population. They may not get the same attention or prestige, but they're there day-in and day-out taking care of beloved pets and trusted co-workers.