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Story by Sherry Baldwin Photos courtesy of the Layton Family
With Heart and Soul
PLANT CITY WOMAN FOLLOWS HER DESTINY
A
sk Christy Layton Poulin, DVM, about her choice to enter the field of Veterinary Medicine and she points to a scar on her forehead. This scar, as she went on to share, was the result of a horse riding accident that occurred when she was 13 years old. Also injured in the fall was her beloved horse, Miami. Following the instructions of her Veterinarian, Dr. Poulin nursed Miami back to health and her interest was sparked. Growing up in Plant City, Dr. Poulin also spoke about how much of her free time was spent working with animals in varying capacities. She participated in 4-H, Future Farmers of America, the American Kennel Club and became involved in showing Appaloosa horses at age 14. Not surprised by her career choice, Dr. Poulin’s parents, Ron
and Barbara Layton, also described how, “Christy would treat the animals that her sister, Renee (Layton Stone), brought home. Christy has always put her heart and soul into her animals,” stated the Laytons. Renee further added that her sister’s interest in the details of veterinary medicine (and procedures) also made for some “pretty interesting dinner conversations.” This natural progression of working with animals continued as Dr. Poulin graduated Plant City High School and was later accepted into the University of Florida’s (UF) College of Veterinary Medicine. She credits the support of her family and friends with helping her to not only achieve her goal of becoming a Veterinarian, but also with the recent opening of her own practice here in Plant City, Timberlane Pet Hospital and Resort.
Dr. Poulin (as a teen) with her horse Miami’s Big Sirprize
“To this day… weekly, sometimes daily, I am reminded that my decision to become a Veterinarian was my destiny,” stated Dr. Poulin. Outside of her practice, Dr. Poulin’s work with the United Animal Nations (UAN) - Emergency Animal Rescue Service (EARS) has taken her to aid animals in an area hit by
Hurricane Charley. She is involved with the Great American Teach-In and is associated with a variety of local animal rescue groups. Dr. Poulin and her husband Chris currently reside in the Plant City area with a menagerie of animals, including her “companion through Vet School,” an Australian Shepherd named “Tessie.”
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FOCUS PLANT CITY EDITION • December 15, 2006 - January 15, 2007 • PG 13