For starters, Dr. Sheperd is THE BEST veterinarian in Fayette County - that's why he's so busy. He has a huge heart for animals, because those are his patients, *not* the humans who bring them in. Even though he's not an emergency practice, he never says no if you bring in your pet due to an emergency. He also accepts strays and abused animals that people find, or that law enforcement confiscates. He runs a full surgical practice, and has his own small hospital for pets who need 24-hr observation after surgery or for other reasons. He also runs the Wildlife Conservancy near Rowes Run, which takes over the care of the exotic wild animals - such as tigers - that area people think they can handle but can't. Also, being a country vet, Dr. Sheperd is available to local farmers for house calls to see their farm animals, which can't be brought to the office. In a word, he's a busy man.
Despite that, he's never, for even a moment, copped an attitude with me or anyone I personally know. He's never acted like he's better than anyone. When I tell him my cats and I saw him on the news, and how my cats get afraid when they hear his voice in our home, he laughs, it doesn't bruise his ego. When I became disabled, he understood that my income changed, but my one cat's health problems didn't, and he's been great in helping me find affordable options for taking care of a very important pet. He knows my pets' personalities, remembers their sensitivities, and gives me great advice for their at-home care.
Have I sat in his waiting room for a while after our appointment was scheduled? Sure I have, but I've done that for my *own* doctors, too! And they aren't nearly as busy as Dr. Sheperd. I spend the time chatting with the other humans in the waiting room, or if my cat's not feeling up to sharing the room with a bunch of big, noisy dogs, we stay in our vehicle, and I find things to do there - I always bring my device so I have games and stuff, just in case. There have been times when we were the emergency that caused everyone else to wait, so I don't begrudge others their time with the doctor. His staff are there to work with animals, mostly because they are easier to get along with than humans. I treat them as the professionals they are, and they've become very nice to me and my cats.
For as busy as he is, Dr. Sheperd isn't getting rich off this practice. The Wildlife Conservancy runs on donations, and Fayette County being so poor (and he does so much charity work), he's comfortable, but he's not at all making what he would if he was working in a more suburban area, or even just a more wealthy county. But he's dedicated to this area, and our animals. It pains me to see his practice maligned by impatient people, when I know this is one of the gems of this county, hands down. But the true testament to the value of Camelot comes not from me, but from their actual patients, my cats. I've tried taking them to other vets whose offices are a little bit closer to our home, or who charge a little less for shots, and my cats crouch, hiss, even swipe at them! They might get grouchy with Dr. Sheperd, but they're more likely to try to talk to him than hiss at him. THEY don't want to see anyone else. read more
