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Elizabeth Danta Blount One Health For Pets and People By Tamara Smith
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Christie Meresse Photography
r. Elizabeth Blount is a captivating mother of three, an opera singer and a restorer of historical buildings. She lives on the grounds of a historically landmarked former Spanish mission. Those are little known facts about her since most of Tallahassee knows her as Dr. Blount of At Home Veterinarian Care, LLC, and as a passionate veterinarian and an active volunteer in the Tallahassee community. After graduating from Michigan State University with a degree in Natural Resources and Environmental Education, she lived in Mexico for a year and a half training Peace Corps volunteers. She then moved to the Florida Keys where she bred and raised Labrador retrievers. It was there that her love of volunteerism and her love of animals came together. She worked with a veterinarian who encouraged her to think about becoming one herself, so she did. After graduating, she bought her first practice and then sold it ten years later to move to Tallahassee with her family.
help to be the person my dog After establishing a relief “My nightly prayer is for help to be sees in me, and for me to practice here in which she acted as a substitute veterinarian, she the person my dog sees in me, and be worthy of her service.” realized there was a real need for me to be worthy of her service.” When talking about the future, for homebound residents with she is currently developing animals to be able to access programs to make it possible for veterinarian services. Since Dr. so that I can get an understanding of the people to keep their pets for their entire Blount was also missing the connections lifetime, and ensure that the pet will be with clients that came with having her own challenges facing them as a family unit, completely cared for. “I’ve become acutely practice, she took that thought and created then attempt to meet those needs, or help them find resources in the community aware of the challenges that come with At Home Veterinary Care, LLC with her to do it.” Since Dr. Blount is an active aging or with terminal issues, and how minivan and one client. Now, over two volunteer with numerous organizations important it is for people to continue to years later, she has 1150 clients that utilize make choices for themselves and for their her full service, unique approach to animal in the community, such as Meals on pets.” This gives tremendous peace to those care, providing everything an office setting Wheels, ECHO and Hardison Home, she can be a liaison for them within facing a move to a nursing home or would provide, right in the client’s home. the community services spectrum. rehabilitation center, homelessness, or the end of life stage. “I want At Home to be For Dr. Blount, this service is about client-driven, and I want to serve people Even though it’s extremely rewarding more than just convenience. It is about the best way I can to strengthen the working with clients who are hospice helping people and their pets have a better relationships between animals, their patients, or have significant health issues, quality of life. After learning a concept owners, and our community. I end each it can sometimes be challenging. That’s called “One Health” from a colleague day with the hope that I have made a where her dog companion, Ibby, comes and friend, she believes in a connection difference in someone’s life.” in. A former service dog, Ibby attends between family members, environment, school programs and other charity events and “furry” family members. Going into with Dr. Blount. Ibby also exemplifies the homes of homebound clients, seniors the “One Health” principal in a personal or hospice patients, she says, “I get to way for her. “My nightly prayer is for know them and their furry companions 52 t a l l a h a s s e e
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• J u n e / J u l y 2012