Longmont veterinarian Lynn Ferguson has healed numerous pets belonging to multiple generations of the city’s families in his 40 years as a veterinarian and owner of The Animal Hospital on Main Street.
But he will perform his final checkups, diagnoses, surgeries and treatments of the city’s furry, feathered and four-legged residents next week, when Ferguson will retire from veterinary medicine to fly the skies of Wyoming.
“It’s fun to see that children grow up to be adults and are now having children of their own and are still coming in,” Ferguson said.
He started working as a veterinarian at The Animal Hospital, 1250 Main St., in 1978, buying into its ownership the following year.
He is giving up his longtime practice to take a part-time position as the Alpine, Wyo., airport manager, a job to which he will frequently travel via his six-seat Cessna airplane from his family ranch he cares for in Wheatland, Wyo., a journey that can take seven hours on the road.
Flying with his chocolate Labrador retriever Ranger has long been one of Ferguson’s hobbies, and he plans on making the occasional flight down to visit Longmont, too.
“It was a very difficult decision and I did this because of other opportunities. I figured I should try something else with my life before it’s over,” Ferguson, 65, said.
The Animal Hospital several years ago sold to Paul Veralli, 67, former owner of the Frisco Animal Hospital, but after Ferguson’s last day on Oct. 31, it will be the first time in decades that neither Ron Mannis, Don Dreyer nor Ferguson — a trio that owned the Longmont practice together for years — will be involved in the clinic.
Mannis left in 2003, followed by Dreyer’s exit in 2014, Ferguson said.
“I hate to leave so many clients and animals, and the clients have become such great friends. I only feel comfortable leaving because I know the clients will be in good hands with the ongoing team we have here,” Ferguson said.
When he first started at the clinic, it was still a mixed practice that treated large animals and livestock as well as house pets, and the clinic had outdoor horse paddocks in the rear, where remodeling throughout the years has put clinic offices.
Ferguson on Monday recalled many years ago responding in the middle of the night during a freezing cold blizzard “when I was stripped down to my bare arms” to treat a cow with a prolapsed uterus to make sure she was properly cleaned. His colleagues remember many other late nights and holidays he gave up to treat family pets facing health emergencies.
“At the drop of a hat, even after hours, he has helped various staff out when they are in crisis,” Animal Hospital veterinary technician Carla Siebert said, adding Ferguson was “just a great teacher and a great doctor.”
Ferguson earned his doctorate in veterinary medicine from Colorado State University and has specialized in orthopaedic and soft tissue surgery, dentistry and acupuncture.
“The man never lost his cool,” Veralli said. “… He was so dedicated to his clients. I have never seen anyone more dedicated in his profession. He always put his patients and his clients above everything. He spent so much time helping people with their pets, whether it was good times or bad.”
Residents are invited to The Animal Hospital for a reception to honor Ferguson from 3 to 6 p.m. Nov. 1, his first day of retirement from the veterinary field.
“We are a family here, and although he will remain a big part of our lives, we will miss spending time with him on a daily basis. Dr. Ferguson has had an immense impact on this hospital,” a statement on the Animal Hospital website reads.
Sam Lounsberry: 303-473-1322, slounsberry@prairiemountainmedia.com and twitter.com/samlounz.
