VETSToronto turns 25

[attach]6259[/attach]After a decade on the job at VETSToronto and Kingston Road Animal Hospital, Dr. Jonathan Mitelman still gets excited about coming to work.

“When I wake up in the morning I can’t wait to go here,” he says. “I have trouble going to bed sometimes.”

Reflecting back on his 10-year tenure at the Kingston Road and Victoria Park Avenue location, he recalls the day Dr. Morris Samson, who founded the practice 25 years ago, broached the subject of going into business together in 2004.

“I was elated,” he says. “I never thought that I would be the right person but, boy oh boy, we’ve melded well together and our partnership was solidified at the end of 2005.”

After seeing a need in the community, the full-service animal hospital launched an emergency service, which is open 24/7 with a doctor on site around the clock to serve those with animals in need of immediate attention.

“The closest available emergency hospital was about 13 kilometres away and that can feel like a lifetime when your pet is choking,” Mitelman says. “God forbid if your pet is dying, gasping for air. Every moment counts.”

In addition to examining and treating dogs, cats, birds and exotic pets, Mitelman, who owns three cats, also trains and mentors staff as well as veterinarians who received their degrees abroad and are searching for accreditation in Canada.

“I get to take my knowledge and share it,” he says. “I frequently go back to the veterinary college and I lecture to the students on what I’ve learned, my experiences, what students should learn and help students.”

Although some medical cases turn out great and others don’t, he hopes clients take away a sense of how much they love what they do and their eagerness for giving great pet care and a wonderful client experience.

“There are certain medical cases that bring surprises, twists and turns,” he says. “It brought us closer to consultants and other specialists and veterinarians outside of the walls of this building that we were able to connect with, learn new things, apply new techniques. It also helped me learn communication, emotional awareness and working with people at their emotional highs and lows.”