Veterinarian Chris Schwarz's journey to Steamboat Springs started on his family's farm in northwest Kansas, passing through the halls of Kansas State University where he earned his doctorate and practiced in Thornton before moving north.
"The reason I moved here was because of the practice," Schwarz said. "We didn't move here because it's Steamboat -- It's a great place to live and great, great, great place to raise kids. That was all part of it, but the practice is really what brought us to Steamboat Springs."
After spending the last decade working as a partner in Pet Kare Clinic, 102 Anglers Dr., alongside fellow veterinarians Susan Colfer and Paige Lorimer, Schwarz will become the sole owner next month.
Colfer has been at Pet Kare Clinic since 1998 and Lorimer, who started in Steamboat Springs working for founder and longtime Steamboat Springs veterinarian Dr. Sam Taliaferro, will reduce their roles but remain involved. Taliaferro, who is now retired, started the business as a mobile veterinary clinic in 1987, and sold it to Colfer and Lorimer in 1997.
"It was a mobile practice at that point in time, so kind of worked out of a van, and I believe, then transitioned to brick-and-mortar practice over Sundance Plaza where the daycare is (today)," Schwarz said.
Schwarz said that Lorimer is still going to be on deck to help out with management issues and Colfer will work doing house calls for the clinic and filling in with any open gaps in the schedule.
"I told them they weren't allowed to leave, and if they leave town, they must make sure they have their telephone on them," Schwarz joked.
Schwarz and his wife, Jenny, moved to Steamboat Springs in 2014. Prior to that he attended Kansas State University majoring in Animal Science later going to KSU Veterinary school, graduating in 2001 with his Doctorate in Veterinary Medicine.
He stayed in Kansas where he worked at a mixed animal practice in south-central Kansas for three years where he saw everything from sunburned pigs to gunshot dogs. He then moved to Thornton, Colorado where he was involved in a practice that evolved from a five-doctor daytime practice to a busy ten-doctor 24-hour facility. After spending 11 years in Thornton, the family, which includes his daughters Opal and Pearl, decided to return to a small-town living when they moved to Steamboat Springs and became a part of the Pet Kare Clinic family. The love of animals is strong in the Schwarz family that has two dogs, two cats, three rabbits and six chickens.
As a veterinarian he has a special interest in ultrasonography and has expanded his learning extensively through continuing education classes. Schwarz, and the other veterinarians at Pet Kare Clinic, are always researching the latest technology and continually educating himself to keep the hospital at the cutting edge of veterinary science.
He said the clinic has a staff of 20 people including veterinarians, bookkeepers as well as management. The clinic recently hired Lauri Mignone to replace Dr. Culver's full-time role. She joined a team that includes full-time veterinarians Schwarz, Karen Nann and Lauren Sample.
"As far the practice goes, when you look at mountain towns it's rare to find a practice of this caliber with all of the equipment, the knowledge and the capabilities," Schwarz said. "It's just tough to find an all-around good practice like this, and it's pretty important in Northwest Colorado."
Schwarz said the Pet Kare Clinic has clients from Craig, Meeker, Kremmling, Walden and Routt County and has had clients drive from Laramie and Grand County seeking care for their pets.
"We are actually drawing people in from as far away as Grand County, so definitely kind of unique here," Schwarz said. "Obviously, we don't want to draw in too many people from that far because we're not geared to be a 24-hour emergency practice. We're a daytime practice that that offers emergency services."
The Pet Kare Clinic is open from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. Monday through Thursday, from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Friday and from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. on Saturdays. The clinic also offers a drop-off service for animals that need urgent care as well as a 24-hour call service that is offered seven days a week for emergencies. Pet owners can call the clinics regular number at (970) 879-5273 and will be directed to the veterinarian on call.