(Dr. Jaime Thurk with husband Kodiak Malmstrom and son Fiance | Photo Courtesy of Kodiak Malmstrom)
Dr. Jaime Thurk, DVM, owner of East Bend Animal Hospital, purchased her busy practice in 2015 and has quickly built the business into a thriving veterinary clinic. She acquired the practice from the previous owner, who was burned out and struggling financially at the time, Thurk said. There were three employees when she bought it, but Thurk grew the clinic by engaging in a lot of volunteering, and by making a concerted effort to get involved in the community, she said. She conducted free exams for adopted pets, performed dental work for the Humane Society, offered a low-cost vaccine clinic at Pet Express and she provides free toenail trims for pets of people who donate food to the Hope Community Pet Food Bank. Thurk is also president of the Board of Directors of Think Wild, a local wildlife hospital. “I really just tried to get into the community and to get to know people, and to be involved as a volunteer. From there, I got a lot of referrals and recommendations,” she said.
At East Bend Animal Hospital, dogs and cats are not the only animals to be treated. “I also see birds, and reptile pocket pets like guinea pigs and rats. I’ve treated wallabies, venomous snakes, a Canadian goose, fawns, owls, songbirds and a badger. This morning, I took dental x-rays on a squirrel,” she said with a laugh. She also helps the Sunriver Nature Center with their animals.
Now, Thurk’s practice has grown to 12 employees, and she moved into a new location on Greenwood Avenue in April of 2018. The new, much larger location allowed her to turn her practice into a Fear Free clinic, which was a huge priority for her, she said. “It makes an enormous difference for staff and clients, and the pets are much happier.”
To be designated a Fear Free facility, a veterinary practice must establish certain protocols that help the animals stay calmer. Among the methods Thurk implements are:
- Soft pet-relaxation music in each room
- The use of two pheromone sprays and diffusers for dogs and cats that mimic the hormones secreted by a mama cat or dog and are proven to make pets feel calmer
- A cat-only room where, whenever possible, cat owners can wait instead of sitting in the lobby with everyone else. The room has a cat tree, cat treats, toys and cat grass
- Bed Buddy Friends, which are soft toys that have been treated with a pheromone spray and are kept in cages to help reduce the anxiety of animals who have received treatments or surgery
- Bandanas and Towels: As clients enter the clinic, a pheromone-infused bandana is placed on dogs, and pheromone-infused towels are placed over cat carriers
- Treats: All around the clinic, treats are placed so that clients can use them, and staff can reward pets often and consistently while visiting the facility.
Thurk, who grew up on a dairy farm in rural Wisconsin and received her Bachelor of Science degree in Marine biology at Texas A&M University, went on to receive her Doctor of Veterinary Medicine from Ross University in St. Kitts, West Indies in 2009, and completed her one-year clinical rotation at Washington State University. Since acquiring East Bend Animal Hospital, she says that her greatest challenge has been being able to adequately pay her “amazing” staff. “Bend is expensive. People have to be dedicated to this profession and know that they don’t get paid that well,” she said. She also battles compassion fatigue at times, she said. “It’s hard emotionally. You have good days and tough days.” But the rewarding part of her work, she said, is helping animals and making them feel better, and making their owners happy that their pets feel better.
When she’s not taking care of animals, Thurk enjoys spending time with her husband, Kodiak, her son, Fiance, her two dogs (Echo and Hoss) and her two cats (Mr. Bojangles and Fat Cat). She also enjoys hiking, camping and just spending time in the outdoors.
