Dr. Susan Besel graduated from the Oregon State University College of Veterinary Medicine, then completed a one year internship at an equine practice in Woodinville, WA. She then moved to Arizona, where she was the resident veterinarian on a large Arabian breeding farm for 4 years. Having enough of the desert, she then moved back to the northwest and to San Juan Island in 1988. Here on the island,
she has had a mixed animal practice and opened Harbor Veterinary Services in February 2000. Her favorite aspects of practice are general surgery and equine reproduction. In her spare time, Dr. Besel and her husband Rich operate a small farm where they raise Suffolk sheep and beef cattle. She also enjoys riding dressage, herding with her Australian Cattle Dogs and gardening. Dr. Susan Poirot graduated from the University of Minnesota and spent 10 years as partner in a mixed animal practice in Farmington Minnesota. She has been treating small animals for the past 29 years, was an owner of 2 busy animal hospitals in Minnesota and a past member and president of the MInnesota Board of Veterinary Medicine. In 2008 she sold her veterinary practices in Minnesota and moved with her family to Friday Harbor after falling in love with the San Juan Islands. She joined Dr. Besel's practice in October 2008 and looks forward to helping island pets and their owners for years to come. In her spare time she enjoys gardening, fishing, sailing, reading and caring for the family's horses, dogs and cats.