"Salem" Watkins
February, 1999 - August 23, 2008

We are deeply saddened to announce the death of our beloved clinic kitty, Salem. Salem was rescued from an apartment complex dumpster as a kitten, and became a permanent resident of our clinic in February of 1999. He was a familiar sight in our reception area where he spent many happy hours napping and generally being in the way. Many of our clients knew and loved Salem as much as we did, and the void left by his unexpected passing will be felt by many.

Salem had the uncanny ability to sense when someone was sad or distressed and he made it his business to comfort and console many of our clients throughout the years he spent there. He often asked to be picked up, and would very sweetly wrap his arms around your neck, purring deeply. One client shared a story with us about how Salem came and comforted her after she received sad news about her own kitty, and she was sitting in the reception area crying. She said it amazed her then, and that she would never forget him.

Often, when clients would bring their cats into the clinic, Salem would hop on top of their kennels and peek at them through the cage door, staring upside down at the cat inside. Somehow, his clowning frequently calmed them down. He always knew when he was needed.

We appreciate the cards and condolences expressed by those who knew him best, and we know that you share our sadness and sense of loss. In the words of a dear friend, "Salem was a generous ambassador," and he will be missed.

The Pets Doc Veterinary Clinic Hosts Chamber Business After Hours & Clinic Open House

The newly renamed Pets Doc Veterinary Clinic, 3048 Clifty Dr. in Madison, hosted the Madison Area Chamber Of Commerce "Business After Hours" on May 21st. Kevin and Margo Watkins held a grand unveiling of their new sign and an open house with tours of the Clinic. Madison Mayor Tim Armstrong presided at the ribbon cutting along with chamber Ambassadors & Directors (from left to right):

Linda Wenning, Galen Bremmer, Mayor Armstrong, Margo Watkins, Madelynn Watkins, Dr. Kevin Watkins, John Miller, Deana Williams, Kelly Hoagland, Julie Wattenbarger, John Knoebel, Linda Ralston & Watkins' dogs Danny Boy and Pinky Sue.

Dr. Kevin Watkins cuts the ribbon with help from (left to right):

Nancy Birge, Debbie Bingham, Madison Mayor Tim Armstrong, Margo Watkins, Jessica Burkhardt, Kelly Brown Kim Mullins & Watkins' dogs Danny Boy and Pinky Sue.

Same doctor, same great care, but
WE’VE CHANGED OUR NAME!

2008 marks our 10th anniversary here in Madison, and for several reasons, we decided the time was right to change the name of the clinic. Foremost, we believe that pets are family too, and we wanted our name to better reflect that we are the family pet’s health care provider. The Pets Doc Veterinary Clinic is here to serve you and your four-legged family!

RETURNING HOME

(Madison Courier, April 30, 2008, (Staff photo by Ken Ritchie)

Dr. Kevin Watkins releases a broad-winged hawk near the south entrance of Clifty Falls State Park on Tuesday. Watkins, of the Pets Doc Veterinary Clinic, said he received a call about a downed hawk on Hanover Hill several days ago. Watkins said the raptor appeared to have been stunned, but did not appear to have any major injuries. Upon release, the hawk flew up to a high branch and then farther into the woods.

“STAR TREK” TECHNOLOGY - THERAPEUTIC LASER

In 2007, we were introduced to some amazing technology at a veterinary continuing education conference. We were very impressed with the pain management capabilities of the therapeutic laser, and we knew we wanted to have one in our clinic so we could offer it to our patients. Pets with chronic pain conditions, acute injuries, and post-surgical pain have benefited tremendously from this type of pain management.

The therapeutic laser works on damaged tissue in several different ways. It increases circulation, which increases oxygenation, and effectively jump-starts the body’s own healing process. It also causes a release of endorphins, the body’s own “feel good drug”, while it blocks nerve signals from firing, decreasing pain. In chronic pain conditions, such as arthritis, laser therapy improves the health of the joint, whereas drugs can only improve the symptoms. This technology allows us to offer a very safe and effective treatment option for pain management, and gives pet owners an alternative to drug therapy.

A cliff-hanger for Ginger
Dog saved after 50-foot tumble at state park

(Madison Courier, Oct. 21, 2006, Donovan Estridge, Reporter)

Stewart Brown of Muncie comforts his dog Ginger after the 5-year-old Malamute fell about 50 feet from Trail 7 in Clifty Falls State Park on Friday. Brown waited with the dog until rescue crews from the Madison Township Volunteer Fire Department and Clifty 6 city fire departments were able to make it down to the dog.

Veterinarian Kevin Watkins, below, rappels down the cliff to get sedatives to Ginger to keep her quiet for the ascent up the cliff. Rescuers placed Ginger in a stretcher and pulled her up with the ropes that Watkins had used to rappel. (Staff photos by Ken Ritchie)

Ginger, a five-year-old Malamute dog, gained an extra life Friday after surviving a 50-foot fall from a cliff at Clifty Falls State Park. The brown dog suffered minor fractures to her right leg.

She was lifted to safety during a daring rope rescue by members of the Madison Township and Clifty 6 fire companies and veterinarian Dr. Kevin Watkins. "I don't know if she has nine lives," Ginger's owner Mary Brown said. "I am just hoping she has one right now."

Stewart and Mary Brown of Muncie were celebrating their 10th wedding anniversary at the state park with their dogs, Ginger and Madison. After spending Thursday night at a local hotel, the Browns chose to spend their last day in Madison exploring the picturesque scenery of the state park.

Their first stop was to take a picture with their dogs in front of the Big Clifty water fall on the north side of the park. Though the picture was to only take a few minutes, a curious Ginger had other plans. Mary Brown said Ginger jumped up to a rock ledge that borders a jagged cliff. Before the couple could get her down, Ginger slipped loose from her collar and plummeted down the rocky gorge.

The Browns didn't know what to do. Luckily, another person in the area called for help. Before help could arrive, Stewart Brown scaled down the cliff to reach his injured dog. "I told him 'you better get down there,'" Mary Brown said.

After scaling a cliff with a tiny rope that was used for a leash, Stewart Brown managed to reach Ginger who was on her back in obvious pain. Minutes later, Madison Township Fire Chief Robert Black arrived at the scene.

Once at the overlook, Black knew that rescuing the 114-pound dog was not going to be an easy task. "It had to be one of the worst spots in the park to fall," Black said. The rescue effort was complicated because the cliff Ginger fell down didn't provide rescuers with proper accessibility.

After assessing the area, Black knew that the only safe route down was a nearby trail. Rescue workers trudged for nearly 30 minutes through the rugged trails to reach Stewart Brown and Ginger.

With the rescuers at the cliff's bottom, Black's initial plan was to lower a rescue basket from the observation deck to the rescue workers below. Rescue workers would then walk the dog across Clifty Creek and out through the trail. But after arriving on the scene, rescuers told Black that the creek was too high and fast for that to be possible. "It would have been hard for them to keep their footing across the creek," Black said.

Having to improvise, Black and other rescue workers on the observation deck scrambled to conjure a contingency plan. While Black and other rescuers were trying to find a safe alternative to the plan, firefighters called Dr. Kevin Watkins to assess the dog's condition. Watkins also was to sedate the dog to ensure that she wouldn't fall again once the rescue was under way.

As Watkins arrived on the scene, he too was troubled by the cliff's location. "There was no way for me to tell what injuries the dog had," Watkins said. "I had to get down there." Without hesitation Watkins asked to be lowered down. "Kevin (Watkins) has had some rappelling training," Black added. Because Watkins isn't used to rappelling, rope rescuers from the Clifty Six fire company gave the veterinarian a quick crash course. After a five- minute refresher, Watkins, who came dressed in business casual clothes, donned a safety helmet and harness and began his descent down the cliff. "It wasn't bad once I got to the first drop off," Watkins said.

Inch by inch, Watkins lowered himself closer to the injured dog below. "I really haven't seen a veterinarian do that before," Mary Brown said as she watched Watkins be lowered down the cliff. Finally, Watkins landed safely on the base of the cliff and assessed Ginger. He gave Ginger a sedative to keep the scared and confused dog calm.

With Ginger sedated, rescuers decided the only option was to pull the dog up to the observation deck. "I just hoped she (Ginger) didn't have any internal injuries," Mary Brown said. While she waited in angst, rescue workers began pulling Ginger to safety. Though Ginger was in good hands, she wasn't out of the woods yet, literally. "It was a very hard job," Black said. "The terrain made everything difficult."

Because of the dog's weight, and a sharp drop-off, the trek up the cliff was slow and painful. Firefighter Derek Black volunteered to guide the dog up on the basket, but as the two were being pulled up, the load proved to be too heavy.

A decision was made to lower the dog back down and let Derek Black off of the load. Derek Black cut himself loose half-way up the cliff at the base of a smaller hump. Once loose, Derek Black found himself in a precarious position. Because of the weight of the basket, Derek Black at one point, ended up hanging upside down.

Despite the bad position, he maintained his composure and continued helping guide the basket to the rescuers at the top of the cliff. "Everyone did a great job," Robert Black said. "We had a bunch of excellent people."

As Ginger finally made it on top of the cliff, Robert Black and firefighter Troy Hawkins carried the basket to the parking lot. They loaded the heavily sedated dog onto a Department of Natural Resources truck for a trip to Watkins' office.

Once in a stable environment, Watkins found that Ginger miraculously had only minor injuries. The news of Ginger's good health came as a relief to the Brown family. While Mary Brown was at Watkins' office, Stewart Brown had to get back up the cliff by going through the trail. Eventually, he and Mary Brown reunited in Watkins' office.

When Stewart Brown found Ginger in good health, he fell to his knees in tears, relieved that the family dog was in good hands. "I wish I could do something for everyone that helped," Stewart Brown said. "Maybe I can come back here and wash every fire truck."

Watkins wrapped Ginger's injured leg, and kept her at the office while the Browns checked into a hotel to get some much needed rest. "I have to work tomorrow (Saturday)," Stewart Brown said. "But that can wait. Ginger is family."

Following the unbelievable events of the day, the Browns said they will visit Madison again, but the next time will be different. "The dogs will be wearing harnesses," Stewart Brown said.

Appreciating a good deed

He had just saved her from a fire in her house, rescuing her by carrying her out of the house into her front yard, while he continued to fight the fire.

She is pregnant.

The firefighter was afraid of her at first, because he had never been around a Doberman before.

When he finally got done putting the fire out, he sat down to catch his breath and rest.

A photographer from the Charlotte, North Carolina newspaper, "The Observer," noticed this red Doberman in the distance looking at the fireman.

He saw her walking straight toward the fireman and wondered what she was going to do.

As he raised his camera, she came up to the tired man who had saved her life and the lives of her babies, and kissed him, just as the photographer snapped this photograph.

And people say animals are dumb - yeah right.

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