Family often encompasses more than parents, siblings, cousins, aunts and uncles, grandparents. The boundaries of family often extend to include man’s best friend, and Valparaiso residents have trusted McAfee Animal Hospital since 1943 when Dr. John McAfee began the practice on LaPorte Ave in Valpo. Starting out as a large animal veterinarian, John’s son Larry accompanied him on visits every morning. “We’d de-horn calves, castrate pigs,” stated Larry, “My father had an incredible passion for animals. I saw how much my dad touched people.”
The passion rubbed off on Larry who went on to become a veterinarian as well, joining the practice in 1975. His years as a vet have offered the opportunity to work with all creatures, great and small, across a wide variety of cases. “Part of me says I’ve seen everything there is after 39 years but every day there is a cool new case that comes in.” He went on to discuss two cases that came about the week before, one featuring a cyst near the heart and another featuring a cyst in the frontal lobe of the brain, a situation that has only occurred in 48 cases. “This never gets old. I’m blessed.”
Not only has Dr. McAfee treated the beloved animals of this community, he has also has a heart for serving the community in other ways, an attitude that has passed through the practice since its beginning. “My father would trade services a lot,” stated Larry. While that practice isn’t as common these days, Dr. McAfee works to educate kids about animal care and being a vet through Animal Talks, along with hosting blood drives and events for the United Way and the American Cancer Society. “Veterinarian medicine has been good to me in Porter County, I want to give back to the community.”
After many years of serving, Larry has taken a step back, seeing patients on a limited schedule. His daughter, Brooke, has come on board as an associate veterinarian. “I love what I do, I’m excited to be the third generation and fill the shoes of my grandpa and dad.” Brooke wanted to be a veterinarian from a very young age, while growing up next door to the original clinic on LaPorte Ave. “Ever since I could walk, my mom would take me over to the clinic,” said Brooke, “I was watching surgeries at age 5. I’ve always loved it.”
Brooke began working at the clinic when she was 16, continuing during the summers when she went away to college. After studying chemistry at IUPUI, she graduated and moved on to vet school at Purdue, which she finished this past spring and joined the practice. “This is not a job to me,” said Brooke, discussing the challenges that working with animals provides, the mystery of pinpointing the problem and dealing with a patient that cannot vocalize their pain. “I see different cases every day, you never know what will walk in the door.”
The practice is made up of 6 doctors, with a support staff of over 30. Treating mainly small animals, the clinic has seen a variety of exotic animals from tarantulas to peacocks. Dr. Larry McAfee works with zoo animals as well, doing dentals on tigers and bears. He also has a heart for wildlife. “Growing up, we had boxes of squirrels and bunnies on our kitchen counter,” said Brooke, discussing her father’s compassion for treating wild animals and nursing them back to health, “I hope to continue that practice.”
McAfee Animal Hospital relocated to 651 Eastport Centre Drive five years ago in order to expand and better serve the community. For more information, contact the clinic at 219.462.5901.