Gentle Doctor Animal Hospital has the BEST clients and patients in the world! We also have a very kind, compassionate and knowledgeable veterinary team. We would like to continue to introduce them to you one at a time.
Please meet another of our wonderful teammates, Whitney McKee!
Name: Whitney McKee
Position: Director of Support Services
When did you join the Gentle Doctor team? May 2008
Tell us about the people and pets in your family.
My husband and I have been married since 2005. He has been the man of my dreams since I was 13 years old!
We have a daughter named Harper who was born in May of 2011. She is the spitting image of her father. We love her to pieces!
We have 2 dogs, Titan and Sheeba. They are both Huskies and are shedding MACHINES!
Harper and Titan
We also have one cat, Clark Kent who we started "fostering" at 2 weeks of age. Needless to say, after hours and months of getting up for feedings, we fell in love and could not give him up!
What do you like to do when you are not restoring and maintaining the health of pets?
We spend a lot of time with our friends and families. During the summer we spend a lot of time at my husband's farm in Franklin, Nebraska 4 wheeling and riding our dirk bike or swimming at the lake. Harper loves the water.
What do you like most about your career?
Hmmm…Hard question...I love so many things about my job. I love working with patients and educating clients. I love that I get to help animals every day. Some days are very sad, but the good days always outweigh the bad.
What is one of the more difficult aspects of your career?
Euthanasia. I have been doing this job since 2005, and I still cry at every euthanasia. I have been in our clients shoes, and I know how much hurt and pain making that decision brings. It is one of the hardest, most selfless choices you can make for your pet, and it is never an easy one.
As an expert in your field, what advice would you give people about maintaining the health of their pets?
Weight control. As a mother of two formerly overweight Huskies - Titan is down 12 pounds and Sheeba is down 20 pounds - I know the importance of keeping them at a healthy weight. They are so much happier, move more and just feel better! But it does take work and self control on your part. I always feel bad because I know they could eat more.
What advice would you give someone looking into a career in veterinary medicine?
You learn something new every day! Veterinary medicine is always changing and growing. You are always learning. It is also a very emotionally trying job. You fall in love with pets every day, and sometimes, no matter how much we do, we can't save their lives. But there is no greater reward then helping an animal or client in need. Like I said, there are more good days than bad.
Tell us about some of your favorite patients.
Hmm...I have so many.
My first one that comes to mind is actually in heaven now. She was this AMAZING Black Lab. She was always happy and excited to see you. As she got older, we saw her at least once a week for many different things. Every time, she was so happy and always brought a smile to your face. Her mom is one of the sweetest women in the world, and loves her dogs very much. They day she went to heaven was a hard day for all of us here at the clinic. She was a very LOVED girl!
Another one of my favorites that comes to mind is an American Eskimo. At first he was very snippy, scared and timid. But I spent a lot of time with this one. And every time he comes in now he is the most excited dog, and he truly is one of the sweetest dogs EVER!!!! He always brings a smile to my face.
The last one I will talk about is a Chow Chow. There are some dogs that just steal your heart. He was one of them. He would growl when you walked by his kennel, but on the inside he was so sweet! He would let you do anything to him - trim his nails, brush him, clean his ears - and he would just lay there. I was always excited to see him. He passed away recently, and he is dearly missed.