AMBER-LEA MARIE
Special to THE NEWS
For veterinarian and business owner, Dr. Anne Walsh, house calls for a pet in need were something often overlooked — until her practice went mobile in 2015.
“I decided that I was going to be Doctor said she takes her time to understand what the pet and its family are going through,” said Walsh, the founder and owner of Home Comfort Veterinarian, a mobile business in Parksville Qualicum Beach. “There has never been anything that I wanted to do more than this, so I went for it.”
In March of 2015, Walsh began her practice after finding her way back to the West Coast from out East. After studying Animal Science at Dalhousie University in Nova Scotia, Walsh was accepted into the Atlantic Veterinary Collage in Charlottetown, PEI, where she graduated in 2014.
In addition to doctoring pets at home with non-threatening illnesses, Walsh also treats animals with terminal sickness as well.
When treating and comforting a pet in palliative care, “Being respectful, kind and compassionate are very important factors in doing what I do,” said Walsh. “It’s not just the life of the pet that may be coming to its last leg, it’s also the life with the pet.”
In helping older bones feel at ease, Walsh mentions that she accommodates anything from lowering the edge of a litter box for a cat with arthritis to putting a pet to rest in the comfort of their own home.
“Taking the time to access and understand what a pet and their family is going through is something that I take my time doing,” said Walsh. “Patience and compassion are very important.”
Due to the fact that Walsh’s clinic is mobile, she says when comforting a pet in palliative care, “I’m just this interesting lady that shows up with treats and sits on the floor with them, so most animals feel quite relaxed with me. In a way, I am able to compliment the services that we already have as far as veterinary services go,” says Walsh.
Now located on an acreage in Qualicum Beach where her animals roam free, Walsh says, “This is where my heart strings are and always have been.” Spending time with Buddy, her chocolate lab and Kitty, Walsh’s silver tuxedo cat, Walsh makes mention that she also has sheep. “The matriarch is Porsche, and her daughters are Lamborghini and Ferrari,” she says, mentioning that she also has a pet ram named Rambo.
You can reach Dr. Anne Walsh by email (homecomfortvet@gmail.com) or by phone (250-228-9631) Your can also check out her website (www.homecomfortvet.com).