Our Story
Dr. Smith has been an animal lover all his life. His passion for becoming a veterinarian started in the 6th grade. After meeting a local veterinarian at an Eagle Scout dinner he began working at the veterinarian’s office in his hometown of Thomasville, Georgia. His passion and love for helping animals grew stronger and finally his dream of becoming a veterinarian came true when he received a scholarship to the University of Florida. Dr. Smith is a 1988 graduate of the University of Florida College of Veterinary Medicine. After graduation, Dr. Smith began his career in South Florida. He was the managing partner of a group of veterinary emergency centers in the Fort Lauderdale area and owned and worked at several daytime veterinary clinics as well. He also did consulting work for several local veterinarians on how to manage and grow their practices. Dr. Smith was very active in the veterinary community in Fort Lauderdale as the president of the Broward County Veterinary Medical Association. His goal was to bring local veterinarians together by hosting social events and promoting continuing education. After 19 years of practicing in Southeast Florida, Dr. Smith wanted to start a family and decided he needed a change of pace. He moved to lovely Sarasota in July 2006 with his wife Leyla and their two Labrador Retrievers and Ernie the kitty. Dr. Smith is now the owner and practicing veterinarian at the Sarasota Veterinary Center. Dr. Smith’s philosophy has always been about practicing high quality medicine with a strong emphasis on preventative medicine for pets of all ages and geriatric medicine for aging pets since the human/animal bond is growing stronger and pets are living longer. His vast experience in veterinary emergency medicine has led to his emphasis on how preventative medicine is key to your pet’s well being. Dr. Smith is a firm believer in the importance of client education. A large percentage of his day is spent on explaining things and answering questions so pet owners can make better informed decisions on their pets health and well being. Another important aspect of Dr. Smith’s practice philosophy is an emphasis on customer service. He likes to surround himself with staff members whose love of animals and compassion is obvious to all who enter his hospital. Nothing is more gratifying than hearing a pet owner say that their pet actually likes to come to our pet hospital. It all fits in with Dr. Smith’s longstanding motto that Pets Are Family Too!