Animal Medical Centers Builds a Legacy of Veterinary Care in Spencer

The need to take care of our four-legged friends is a priority for any proper pet owner. However, being in Northwest Iowa, with agriculture being the backbone of the economy that it is, that need for excellent animal care extends to livestock, as well.

Animal Medical Centers, with offices in Spencer and Hartley, offers veterinary care to both pets and livestock.

“We are a mixed animal clinic, which means we see companion animals – cats and dogs, pocket pets, exotics – and then farm animals. So cattle and swine, sheep, goats and horses,” said one of the practice’s six owners, Dr. Janessa Mechler. “Within our practice, we see a little bit of everything. We’re fortunate we have 10 doctors within our practices. That allows us to see a large variety of species.”

Animal Medical Centers sees its companion animal patients at its Spencer office, located at 515 11th Street SW, and its Hartley office, 6570 320th Street. As for livestock, the practice’s doctors visit the farms for much of the needed care.

The clinic first started in Hartley. It later became known as Animal Medical Centers when the original group of doctors purchased a veterinary clinic in Spencer in the late 90s.

Dr. Mechler, a Spencer native, sees cats and dogs out of the Spencer office.

“The part I like the most is that being in a small town, you get an opportunity to build relationships and get to know people and their pets,” she said. “I think that’s really cool, because I think it helps to foster that human and animal bond. So, getting to see pets with their families, keeping them healthy and helping to foster that bond is really special.”

Dr. Mechler knew from an early age that she wanted to become a veterinarian. Though she worked at Animal Medical Centers as a dog walker and shadowed the veterinarians, Dr. Mechler did not know she would eventually return to Spencer, let alone Animal Medical Centers.

She went to undergrad and, in 2009, received her Doctor of Veterinary Medicine degree from Iowa State University. Drs. Mark and Wendy Rees, the first two doctors at the Spencer clinic when it joined Animal Medical Centers, got back in touch with her while she was still in Ames.

“They reached out to me as I was finishing up at school, just seeing if being back in the Spencer area was something that I would maybe be interested in,” Dr. Mechler said.

Turns out, the answer was yes.

“Keeping in contact and keeping up that relationship was special,” Dr. Mechler said. “That mentorship led to an opportunity for me when I graduated.”

Dr. Mechler isn’t the only Spencer High School alumni working at Animal Medical Centers. It’s become something of a theme there.

“I am one of three doctors working in our Spencer office right now who are alumni of Spencer High School, worked here as a dog walker or job shadowed in some sort of capacity in middle or high school,” she said. “We were able to continue those relationships, offer jobs and attract those people to come back to the area to provide much needed veterinary care. That’s kind of a cool legacy that I think the practice has worked hard on building.”

There are, of course, other Spencer High School alumni who worked at the clinic and life took them elsewhere, Dr. Mechler said, but that only adds to Animal Medical Centers’ legacy of building a love for the career.

“Besides myself, the group of veterinarians has invested in four others who I can think of off the top of my head. They helped to get them started in their careers and foster their love of the profession,” she said.

Dr. Mechler said she appreciates being able to return to and live in the Spencer community.

“I think that we have a really fun community with an active downtown, tons of locally owned businesses and a lot of activities for kids,” she said. “It’s a great place to raise a family.”

Animal Medical Centers tries to do its part in making Spencer a great place – a goal promoted by the Spencer Chamber of Commerce – by supporting other businesses and being active in Chamber activities.

“We try to be an active local business, as far as supporting the other businesses in town,” Dr. Mechler said.

The Chamber encourages its members to take part in community activities and for all businesses in the community to support each other in many different ways. Those are priorities that Animal Medical Centers have taken to heart.

“It’s really important for us to be part of the community and support other local businesses,” Dr. Mechler said. “That’s one of the things that makes Spencer a really great place.”

Chamber Board Member Patty Schulz

“I’m not a native of Spencer, yet it is definitely “home” for our family. I was born and raised in southwest Minnesota and attended Southwest Minnesota State University for both undergrad and graduate school before moving to Spencer in 2009. I have been working in healthcare for 16 years and am currently the Director of Nutrition, Environmental and Valet Services at Spencer Hospital, one of the largest employers in the area. I am also part of the adjunct faculty at Buena Vista University.

Outside of work, my focus is family time, which often includes volunteering in the community. You can find me with my husband, Dave, and four children, Owen, Kathryn, Maverick and Reba. We spend a lot of time at swim, dance, soccer and other sporting events. I was asked to consider joining the board because I’m a member of the hospital leadership team who has a family that is active in the community. I enjoy serving on the board and continue to learn about the community and all Spencer has to offer.”