Tugaloo Animal Hospital, P.C.

Tugaloo Animal Hospital, P.C. Providing Compassionate Care with Character. Dr. Steele and the staff at Tugaloo Animal Hospital have been working in the Lavonia community since 1997.
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The practice happily provides quality Fear Free Small Animal Medicine and Surgery, some Equine Medicine and Surgery, and Boarding. Dr. Steele is also working diligently on becoming certified in Veterinary Acupuncture. Phone: 706-356-1467
Fax: 706-356-1835

Address: 5648 Vickery Street
Lavonia, GA 30533

Email: [email protected]
Website: www.tugalooanimalho

spital.com

Hours of Operation: Monday-Friday 8:30-5:30
Closed on Wed., Sat, and Sunday

Staff:
-April L. Steele, DVM: Veterinarian and CEO
-Lorrie: Customer Service Representative
-Alison: Vet Assistant
-Sue: Caretaker

02/22/2024

There is an old pony in a big pen by the barn. He has no real purpose. No kids ride him, he is not a companion to another old horse.
We lack any shared history. His entry into my life was purely coincidental. There are no cherished, heartwarming memories. I am not indebted to him. However, he exhibits politeness and kindness, greeting me with a gentle neigh as I step out the door each morning.
He eats a princely sum of special food and has a premium round bale of irrigated grass that the other horses can only dream of. His water is fresh and warm in the winter. I’ve gone out there late at night to make sure he has food, and he’s the first thing I attend to after morning coffee.
Why? Why not send him to the sale where ‘someone’ will want him? At 40 cents a pound, he’d be worth a nice steak dinner and drinks in town. They’ll load him on a truck with 30 other old ponies and horses, and somewhere down that line, if he doesn’t fall from his bad knee and get trampled in the transport, he will become dog food.
In our weigh station on this chilly, frosty night, there's a young calf in distress. He's small and undernourished, with f***s adhering to his rear and a slightly runny nose. A heater is in place, maintaining the temperature above freezing. Tomorrow morning, I plan to prepare a bottle of warm milk substitute for him and encourage him to consume some of the specialized feed meant for the pony. Bob will clean his little house and put down fresh bedding. It would be easier to have left him in the field with the 500 bigger, stronger calves, to steal milk from the occasional tolerant cow, to eventually freeze to death and feed the coyotes that lurk about the herd for just such an opportunity.

There is a wild kitten in the barn who most likely jumped off a utility truck a while back. We’ve been leaving food just for him, and making sure the heated water bowl is full, so he doesn’t have to go outside and perch precariously on the horse waterer to drink.

I guess we sound like saps, the old cowboy and I. Sort of wimpy and un-ranch-like.

I guess we are. But at our age, with certain infirmities starting to creep into our daily routines, and the realization that we are not perfect, we are thinking that kindness is a virtue and care is our purpose.

Care of not just the healthy robust animals that make money and pay the bills, but care of everything we are capable of caring for - those creatures that, like us, need a bit more attention to get through the day.

We didn’t go about seeking these creatures- they came to us and landed here not of their own choosing, or ours. But here they are, and off I go to town to a business that provides enough to buy the expensive milk replacer, premium hay, and special pony food.

There may be some karma in all this, or maybe not, but in the end, we’ll know we did the best we could for those that needed us.

12/19/2023

Hello 🔵 It's official. Signed at 12:53. It even came on tv.
Mine really turned blue. Don't forget, the new Facebook rule starts tomorrow (aka... new name META) where they can use your photos. Dont forget the deadline is today!!! I do not give Facebook or any company affiliated with Facebook permission to use my past and future photos, information, messages or posts.
With this statement, I inform Facebook that it is strictly forbidden to publish, copy, distribute or take any other action against me based on this profile and/or its contents. The violation of privacy can be punished by law.
NOTICE: Facebook is now a public entity. All members must publish such a note.
Whoever wants can copy and paste this version. Failure to post a statement at least once will be tacitly allowing the use of your photos, as well as information in profile and status posts.
Hold your finger anywhere in this message and copy will pop up. Click the copy button. Then go to your page, create a new message and put your finger anywhere in the blank field. "Paste" will appear and click Paste.
This will bypass the system....

11/29/2023

Anyone going to or near Alpharetta today, tomorrow, or Friday?? If so please call DrSteele. Red shouldered hawk needs a ride

Wow, I got ice cream cake, a funny, sweet card, and good Mexican food from staff today!! Made me feel special :-)!!  Th...
08/18/2023

Wow, I got ice cream cake, a funny, sweet card, and good Mexican food from staff today!! Made me feel special :-)!! Thank you!!!

03/07/2023

So, … we had a client bring in a cat with neurological signs. The cat was not up-to-date on its Rabies vaccine. The cat was is an indoor/outdoor cat. It came back from outside adventures with neurological signs.

Considering the time of year, presentation, vaccine status, and family exposure, Dr. Steele recommended euthanasia and testing for Rabies virus. The owner agreed.

Thankfully, for the family’s safety, the cat did NOT test positive for rabies. Unfortunately, the not-up-to-date-on-vaccines kitty was euthanized in order to be tested to protect the human family. THIS COULD HAVE PREVENTED WITH A $15 VACCINE.

Please get your pet(s)vaccinated for Rabies.

We are currently experiencing technical difficulties at the office.We are operating during normal business hours at this...
08/22/2022

We are currently experiencing technical difficulties at the office.

We are operating during normal business hours at this time but please feel free to stop by the office for any urgencies or questions.

Thank you for understanding.

On hot summer days, it is important to limit your pet’s time outdoors! Your pet can overheat faster than humans, so be s...
08/07/2022

On hot summer days, it is important to limit your pet’s time outdoors! Your pet can overheat faster than humans, so be sure to provide them with ample water and shade to help keep them cool this summer!

August is Itchy Pet Awareness Month! Did you know pets can have skin allergies too? If you notice your pet is constantly...
08/04/2022

August is Itchy Pet Awareness Month! Did you know pets can have skin allergies too? If you notice your pet is constantly scratching or biting their fur, schedule their visit today!

We are currently experiencing technical difficulties at the office. We are operating during normal business hours at thi...
07/28/2022

We are currently experiencing technical difficulties at the office. We are operating during normal business hours at this time but please feel free to stop by the office for any urgencies or questions.

Thank you for understanding.

Obesity is a common problem among pets, as it is easy to overfeed them! Fortunately, with proper diet and exercise, all ...
07/14/2022

Obesity is a common problem among pets, as it is easy to overfeed them! Fortunately, with proper diet and exercise, all pets should be able to meet their dietary needs and stay within a healthy weight range. Call us today to learn more.

Your pet's heart is a muscle that has to work all day, every day. Regular exercise and a proper diet will not only help ...
07/11/2022

Your pet's heart is a muscle that has to work all day, every day. Regular exercise and a proper diet will not only help keep your pet’s heart healthy, but improve their overall wellbeing. During your pet’s next exam, be sure to ask for more information on how to help keep your pet’s heart healthy.

07/04/2022

We’ve turned away over a hundred orphan raccoons this year. We hated it every time. And in more than half of these cases, finders have begged and pleaded, telling us that every rehabilitator they called has “refused to help,” and often accusing us and our colleagues of not caring.

We understand your pain and frustration, and we feel it too. Every rehabilitator would save every animal if we could. But it’s precisely because we want to save them all, that we have to have limits.

When rescues take in more animals than they can care for, that’s when it crosses the line from rescuing to hoarding. Overcrowding causes disease outbreaks, filth, aggression, and even cannibalism. If we had accepted every raccoon we’ve been called about into this small, home-based facility, it would be a cesspool of disease and filth and would not be kind or compassionate for the animals. Good rehabilitators know what their limits are and operate within those limits.

Even when we’re operating within our limits, we still barely stay on top of all the cleanings and feedings during the peak busy season. Raccoons, in particular, are very messy eaters and very messy poopers and carry a number of serious and highly contagious diseases, and we have to work our butts off to properly care for the ones we do accept into care. If we took five times this number of patients, we’d look less like a rehabilitation facility and more like a scene from a horror movie. We don’t want that, our supporters don’t want that, and the animals certainly don’t want that, either.

If you have found an animal in need of assistance and all of the rehabilitators you’ve called are unable to help, please be kind and patient. Please understand that they hate the situation just as much as you do, if not more. Please continue looking for help through AHnow.org and your state’s wildlife officers until you’ve exhausted every possible option. Every rehabilitator you call is doing their best, but we sometimes have no choice but to say “no.”

We hope to make someone’s day! We have a FT/PT Receptionist job opening and hope you can help by sharing this post. The ...
06/21/2022

We hope to make someone’s day! We have a FT/PT Receptionist job opening and hope you can help by sharing this post. The job duties include but are not limited to, answering a multi-line phone system, scheduling appointments, receiving clients and their pets, and collecting payments. Basic knowledge of veterinary medicine and pet care are a plus. Must have at least 1 year experience with Word, Excel, and Quick books. In our busy practice, we enjoy working with our clients every day. That’s why an applicant must with an outgoing and friendly disposition . Cover letter, resume, and references please. Stop by or call us for more information.

Our staff is filled with passionate animal lovers who are here to help you and your pet. We are dedicated to making sure...
06/14/2022

Our staff is filled with passionate animal lovers who are here to help you and your pet. We are dedicated to making sure that your pets receive the care and compassion they deserve every time they walk in the door!

06/14/2022

If you're interested, or know someone who might be, please send us your RESUME, COVER LETTER, AND REFERENCES.

We are looking for a new addition to our team! Currently, we have FT/PT Receptionist position available. As you know, we...
06/13/2022

We are looking for a new addition to our team!

Currently, we have FT/PT Receptionist position available. As you know, we are a busy practice and are looking for people who thrive in busy environments. We love our patients and it’s just as important to us that we take good care of our clients, that’s why being a pet and people person is a plus!

If you would like more details, let us know by calling or stopping in and we will make that happen!

Address

5648 Vickery Street
Lavonia, GA
30553

Opening Hours

Monday 8:30am - 5:30pm
Tuesday 8:30am - 5:30pm
Thursday 8:30am - 5:30pm
Friday 8:30am - 5:30pm

Telephone

+17063561467

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