Dr. Kennie Reeves: Waiting for permission

When she was in the fourth grade, Kennie Lamming's grandmother's cow was going to have twins. Kennie wanted to watch. However, it was her bedtime, and she wasn't allowed to participate. She was angry and decided to learn to help so she could watch all the births she wanted and even participate in some.

"Actually, I believe that was the first time the Holy Spirit spoke to me about becoming a veterinarian," Kennie Reeves said.

Reeves has been our animal doctor for 30 years, arriving in Dayton with her husband, Chuck, in 1990; the same year Melissa and I arrived in the valley. It seemed like time to catch up with the good Doctor.

Her road to becoming our veterinarian was not without challenge during her formative years. She graduated from Everett High School in 1964 and discovered the principal had written on her transcript that he didn't think she would make it as a veterinarian.

"I laughed," she said.

She applied twice to veterinary school. She didn't get so much as a phone call the first time. That can rattle a person's faith. Nevertheless, she completed her second application the day before the deadline and was accepted.

"I had heard the Spirit speaking again," she said.

She began working on her degree in Public Health and Bacteriology at Washington State University, where she met Chuck. Even then, there were moments of doubt.

"Then one day, I saw a rabbit hiding under a tree in the middle of winter," she said. She recognized it as a picture of endurance and patience.

"I thought if he can make it, so can I."

Kennie began practicing veterinary medicine in 1973. After a half-century, she has become an essential caretaker in the valley for many pet owners, including ours. She recently celebrated her 75th birthday and remains at her post as the small animal whisperer at Dayton Veterinary Clinic, where she provides routine care and maintenance.

"I'm all by myself," she said. "I see a minimum of 15 cases a day, on average, mostly cats and dogs, occasionally a hamster or something."

Folks often ask her when she plans to retire.

"Well, my energy has been running low the last couple of years," Reeves said. "But the truth is, if we officially retire and close the place down before we found someone to replace us, we'd have to leave town. I wouldn't be able to ignore the need. I'm waiting for clarity from the Holy Spirit that it's time. I need permission to quit."

According to Reeves, there will always be a need for a local practice. It is essential to have a local animal clinic for the city's pet owners, especially those unable to travel to Walla Walla or the Tri-Cities. Then there are the ever-present calls to the clinic about stray animals or the late-night emergencies that seem to come once a month or so.

In addition to the two cats that keep full-time residence, the clinic offers small-animal boarding, which some of us refer to as "Dog Hotel."

"It's hard to find younger vets who are willing to work as solo practitioners," Reeves said. "They want a better work/life balance."

She has approached other vets in the region about possibly running the Dayton clinic as a satellite practice. So far, no one has taken her up on the idea.

At home, she and Chuck care for two horses, a mule, a dog, three cats, and some cattle. Kennie enjoys riding dressage. Perhaps she will have more time to ride after she retires; until then, she keeps going where she is needed.

When she and Chuck came to town in 1990, Kennie was fresh off the Alaskan set of the 1991 film, White Fang starring Ethan Hawke. She worked as an on-set animal care professional, caring for the wolf pup actors in the film. Since they arrived in town, she and Chuck hit the ground running. Chuck is mostly retired, answering occasional calls for large animal care. And Kennie just keeps going.

When I asked her how she describes herself, Reeves answered, "Doctor, mother, rider, and seamstress. Someone has to keep the mending up."

Well, I'd say she's done a very good job of it.