On the Job

Published 3:09 pm Friday, March 4, 2011

Dr. Ted Hankes, the head (and only) licensed veterinarian at All Creatures Pet Hospital.

Hankes has been a veterinarian since 1996, and followed in his father’s footsteps; both studied at Auburn University, and both became veterinarians. His father was even a professor at Auburn.

“I like helping the pets, to get them to felling better,” said Hankes. “People are very much a part of the process, too, and I take a lot of pride in taking care of their pets.”

Hankes treats a variety of animals, from the usual dogs and cats to “pocket pets,” such as sugar gliders and rabbits.

“They didn’t teach us much about exotic animals when I was in school. You kind of have to teach yourself about them along the way,” he said.

Hankes is a “vet” in more ways than one; he served in the U.S. National Guard for 10 years before graduating with his veterinary degree, and four years in the U.S. Army before joining a practice. He went to Afghanistan for a year in 2003, and worked as a U.S. Army veterinarian.

“We used a lot of dogs for things like explosives detection,” he said.

Unsurprisingly, Hankes is an animal lover; his dog, Lily, stays with him at his office almost every day, and he also has two cats and a tank full of fish that live at the office.

“They’re good stress relievers, like any pet is,” he said.

Hankes said it is important for pet owners to bring their animals in for regular check-ups, and not just if something is wrong.