Dr. Gregg Tucker has been leading Green Springs Animal Clinic for 21 years — becoming its sole owner in 2017 — and in that time, he’s changed a lot. He bought into a second location, became its sole owner in 2017 as well, and installed state-of-the-art equipment to better serve the clinic’s furry patients.
Dr. Tucker was determined to keep one thing the same: the patient-oriented, personalized level of care afforded to every pet-owner who walks through their doors.
“I am most proud of the dedication our staff has in providing quality veterinary care day after day,” said Emily Tucker, Dr. Tucker’s wife and executive director for the clinics. “Even during an ever-changing global pandemic, our staff maintains their compassion and love for the animals we are entrusted with through ongoing education, attention to client needs and feelings, and maintaining relationships.”
Three members of the staff who help to provide the best care to Green Spring Animal Clinic’s patients and their owners are Dr. Ashley Rutter, Dr. Elise Casey and the newest veterinarian on the team, Dr. Krista Alison.
Dr. Allison, a 2020 graduate from Auburn University College of Veterinary Medicine, decided to become a veterinarian after helping a foal that had fallen 6 feet into a crevice. After rescuing the frightened animal and watching it recover, she knew she had found her calling.
Dr. Rutter, who graduated from Auburn University College of Veterinary Medicine in 2017, said she has always had a calling for veterinary medicine. She enjoys the puzzle-like challenge of working with animals.
“Our patients can’t talk to us,” she said. “They can’t tell me where it hurts or what feels bad.” For that reason, a big part of her job is getting to know the animals’ owners, teaching them signs to look for and educating them about their pets’ health.
“You have to have a teaching spirit to be a veterinarian,” added Dr. Casey, who has been in the field for 23 years. Dr. Casey has worked as a relief veterinarian all over the state, and in her experience, “The better you educate the clients, the easier it is for everyone involved.”
Patients and their owners benefit from the atmosphere cultivated in the family-owned clinic. They enjoy the comfort of knowing that the team they’ve chosen to care for their pet is the same team making crucial decisions about care, not a corporate office in another state.
In addition, pet-owners at Green Springs Animal Clinic can trust that their pets are getting the most advanced care possible.
“We use all state-of-the-art lasers for surgery,” Dr. Tucker said. “This allows for more precise incisions, less healing time, reduced tissue trauma and reduced pain and inflammation post-procedure. We also have adopted the use of ultrasonography for precise tissue imaging.“
The capabilities of their facilities allow the clinic to take care of most, if not all, of their patients’ needs in one location, from routine vaccinations to orthopedic surgery. “We have a strong family core belief that if we give of ourselves every day, we never have to come to work, we only come to serve,” Dr. Tucker said.
