After almost 40 years as a veterinarian, Dr. George Proudfoot is still constantly amazed by the human-animal bond.
"It truly is a social force," says the senior vet at the South Okanagan Animal Care Centre.
"We've seen it even more during COVID with people getting puppies and kittens because they need the social interaction they may not be getting with other people. Animals definitely make a positive difference in our lives."
Dr. George knows veterinarians have to have a unique personality, especially for the type of longevity he's had in the career.
"It's an emotional job and usually there's a high burn-out rate for veterinarians in general, but strong healthy personal and professional relationships are the glue that keeps us happy and working," he says.
"You have to be professional, but also have a good bedside manner, so to speak, with both the pets and their people. As it is with everything, it's all about relationships. And I just really want to help people and their animals."
Dr. George graduated from the Western College of Veterinary Medicine in Saskatoon in 1981 and had his own clinic in Fernie for almost 20 years.
In 1999, he moved to Penticton because in Aboriginal language it means 'a place to live forever' and it is the best place in Canada for pets and humans alike.
He started Animal Medical Clinic in Penticton as a mixed practice, meaning he treated dogs, cats and horses and even made some house calls.
Over time, he began to concentrate more on dogs and cats and affiliated with Fairfield Animal Hospital in Kelowna for emergencies, because the hospital operates 24/7.
It's not all about animals for Dr. George. In his spare time you'll find him gardening, camping and hiking. When it came time for Dr. George to modernize his clinic, he turned to Fairfield's parent company, Interior Pet Health Group, for a deeper partnership.
"We needed digital x-rays and ultrasound and bigger premises, so me and all my staff moved to a new clinic on Riverside Drive and called it South Okanagan Animal Care Centre," he says.
"I'm the senior veterinarian, I am 68, after all, and I work three to four days a week.”
Dr. George is proud to have his name on the sign with Dr. Stephen Ganton (the CEO of Interior Pet Health Group); Dr. Karen Kemp, who he worked with for the past three years as she split her time between the Interior Pet practice in Summerland (Summerland Animal Clinic) and his practice in Penticton; and new hospital manager Katie Craig.
Interior Pet is made up of Central Valley Veterinary Hospital, Fairfield Animal Hospital and South Mission Animal Hospital, all in Kelowna, Westbank Animal Hospital in West Kelowna, Summerland Animal Clinic and South Okanagan Animal Care Centre in Penticton.
