CLEARLAKE ? Several longtime clients, now lifelong friends, came out to wish Dr. Carroll Eagle, DVM a happy retirement last week. Dr. Eagle had served the veterinarian needs of Lake County for 25 years. Today marks his official retirement from the field.
Dr. Eagle”s replacement, Dr. Jerri Waddington, DVM joined the celebration on Oct. 23 at the Lake County Animal Hospital in Clearlake where she was introduced and welcomed warmly to the family. Dr. Waddington, DVM serves large and small animals including horses.
Dr. Eagle and his wife Cindy, who also serves as his assistant, have been serving the pet needs of the community since 1983. Prior to opening their own facility in 1985, Dr. Eagle had worked for Clearlake Veterinary Clinic making house calls throughout the area. The Animal Hospital of Lake County first opened its doors across from Moran”s Pharmacy in 1985 and has been in its current location next to Castle Donuts since 1997.
Dr. Eagle said leaving the field will be difficult but he is looking forward to retirement. He said the clients he”s served over the years have become an extended part of his family. “We have had some tremendous people who have been clients for 25 years,” he said. “They are more friends than clients and it”s going to be hard to leave them.”
Diana Longacre, who has been one of those 25-year clients, was in attendance at the retirement party. She expressed extreme gratitude for the caring and compassionate service Dr. Eagle had provided her special pets throughout the years. “I”ve been going to Dr. Eagle since he started,” she said. “My cat was 21-years-old and he took care of her the whole time and I attribute her long life to Dr. Eagle.”
Longacre, who resides in Glenhaven said she would travel 50 miles to see Dr. Eagle.
Dr. Waddington made her way from Alaska to obtain her degree in veterinary medicine from UC Davis in 2003. Her experience with animals began when her family moved to Washington State where they had what she refers to as a “mini-farm” ? chickens, rabbits, dog and cat and horses. As a teen, she had trained horses at Blue Ridge Arabians.
“After obtaining my medical degree I moved to Lake County and I”ve been here ever since doing mixed animal practice – dogs, cats, goats, sheep and horses, etc.,” she said. “The beauty of being in Clearlake is I will be more accessible because I”ll be in the middle of the county.”
Dr. Waddington said she will be extending the services available at the Lake County Animal Hospital to include ultrasound, dentistry, medicine, surgery and emergency care. In addition, she said she will be extending business hours to six days a week.
“My welcome to the Lake County Animal Hospital in Clearlake has been wonderful. The people are incredibly warm and friendly,” she said. “I look forward to serving the needs of this community for many years to come.”
Dr. Waddington”s staff at the animal hospital includes Tracey Haubursin, veterinarian technician; Anthony Williams, kennel technician; and Stephanie Bailey, receptionist. Mrs. Eagle plans to stay on for an undetermined amount of time to help with the transition.
Dr. Waddington said she looks forward to meeting members of the community and invites the public to stop by the animal hospital and introduce themselves anytime. The facility is located at 14360 Lakeshore Drive.
Contact Denise Rockenstein at drockenstein@clearlakeobserver.com.
