Serving Pets And Their People

WALKING INTO the Washington Crossing Animal Hospital, you’ll experience a warm, small-town feel where the doctors and staff members know the names of every pet and pet owner. At the veterinary practice, owned by Brad Bovee, VMD, the animals are more than just patients, they are family. Bovee’s goal is to always have the pets’ best interest at heart and to make his clients feel comfortable with any medical decisions.

Bovee grew up in a rural community surrounded by animals and worked on farms and peach orchards throughout his youth. He says this type of environment is common in the background of a lot of veterinarians.

His father was also a veterinary scientist. Bovee was uncertain of his career path, so he attended the University of Pennsylvania and completed all the prerequisites to go to medical school, attend veterinary school or get a PhD in the sciences. He ultimately decided to apply to the University of Pennsylvania School of Veterinary Medicine to become a veterinary general practitioner.

“I enjoy the science of it, I enjoy the animals and I enjoy working with the owners,” Bovee says. “If you think you’re going to go to veterinary school and just deal with the animals, you’re not, because they all come with owners.”

A PERFECT LOCATION

Bovee met his wife in veterinary school. Together, they completed internships in Massachusetts and then came back to Pennsylvania, where she got a residency in Philadelphia.

After working at a private practice in New Jersey, Bovee decided to buy his own practice in 2000. Bovee and his wife had adopted two daughters from China and felt that owning a business would give him more control over his schedule. He found the perfect location with Washington Crossing Animal Hospital.

“I was very fortunate to find the veterinarian who I bought this practice from, who was ready to retire, and to find this community to raise my kids here,” Bovee says. “There was a built-in customer base; that’s what you get when you buy a practice—you buy good will. You hope the clients like you and stay, and it worked out nicely.”

For years, Bovee and his family lived less than a mile down the road from the hospital because he used to have to check on his overnight patients. With the growth of referral hospitals, he now rarely keeps any animals in-house.

Besides annual check-ups and vaccinations, the office performs routine surgeries, dental cleanings and mass removals. Bovee’s practice has a few thousand dogs and cats, and he sees 15 to 20 patients a day. He says his interaction with the animals and their owners is the most rewarding part of the job.

“The days when people just accept what the doctor tells them to do and just blindly do it are over,” he says. “People want to know what they’re doing and why. So our goal is to have the best-educated clients.”

Bud Hayman has been coming to the office for 22 years with his four golden retrievers. “I always have lots of questions when I come here, and the knowledge they impart on you helps keep your mind at ease,” Hayman says. “The staff and doctors take such good care of these animals.”

LIFELONG CONNECTIONS

Running the veterinary office for 25 years, Bovee has created many connections within the Upper Makefield Township community. As the local veterinarian and a resident for the first 20 years of his practice, most of his clients were his children’s friends’ parents.

He says it was an awesome place to raise his family and, since they all loved the outdoors, having the towpath nearby was a plus. He jokes that it was rare for him to go out to dinner without running into someone from the practice.

“I have clients I’ve been through with multiple pets,” Bovee says. “They come with a puppy or kitten, and then 10 to 12 years later, they get another one, so we go through a series. It’s nice, and you get attached to the families.”

Upper Makefield Township resident Matt Ruggles has four cats and one dog. “The staff is tremendous,” Ruggles says. “As my pets get older, [staffers at the practice] are always so proactive with dealing with any little or big crisis. When my German shepherd passed away in January, they were always so responsive with everything we needed. The staff and the doctors treat us like family.”

Bovee says he has a great team that consists of another full-time veterinarian, a part-time doctor, nurses and receptionists. With the joys of his job, there are the hard decisions that must be made, too. As a doctor, he says, you try your best to compartmentalize but it’s hard because you see animals so frequently as they get older.

“The end of life is always hard,” he says, “but I see it as the last act of love we express for pets.”

THE JOYS OF PETS

April is National Pet Month, but for Bovee, it’s a yearlong recognition. When deciding to get a dog or cat, he says to make sure to do a lot of research so you pick the one that best fits into your lifestyle.

If you are interested in an active dog breed, make sure you have the right setting for the dog to run around, or figure out ways to provide them with lots of activity. He says the advantage of having cats is they don’t require as much work and are easier on homeowners.

Throughout his life, Bovee has had pets ranging from dogs such as labradors, golden retrievers and French pugs to cats. Currently, he has two Italian greyhounds. He and his wife travel with them and take them hiking all the time.

When not with his pets, Bovee competes in dragon boat racing. He started 10 years ago as part of a charity race. He progressed to joining a club where he competes locally, nationally and internationally. Even with his outside interests, his passion remains with animals.

“Pets just make life better,” Bovee says. “There are more and more studies that show people who have pets have a better quality of life, lower blood pressure and a longer life span. [Pets] are great companions and uniquely evolved to coexist with us.”

BY DARI KOTZKER