Abbott "Pete" Smith, D.V.M.
June 16, 1938 - February 22, 2010
Welcome to Milliron Monday where every Monday we celebrate the legacy of Pete Smith, D.V.M., and Milliron: Abbott “Pete” Smith, D.V.M. The Biography (Monday Creek Publishing 2017). A graduate of Colorado State University and a well-known veterinarian in southeast Ohio, Dr. Smith continues to motivate and inspire.
Dr. Smith cared for many different animals during his veterinary career, but he was best known for his expert care of horses. Milbert Brown of The Athens News (October 11, 1979) wrote the following story about Dr. Smith...
Keeping critters healthy
The same warm intensity that is exhibited in his smile is transmitted to his hands as he operates on valuable horses. The smooth flow of his knife coupled with his unique way of establishing a rapport with animals has earned Dr. Abbott P. Smith considerable notoriety from animals and farmers in Athens County.
Often referred to as 'Pete' Smith is by trade a veterinarian, but is noted as the areas horse specialist.
"I really don't have any favorite animals, but I'm most known for horses," said the 41-year-old doctor.
Because of Smith's expertise in southeastern Ohio and West Virginia as a horse surgeon he has equipped his Milliron Clinic on Rt. 550 with special equipment for treating large animals. A nine-foot by six-foot operation table holds the horses after they have been doped up from an oversized anesthetic machine.
Three days a week Smith sees 60 or more dogs and cats, usually for check-ups and minor treatments. The other days of the week find Smith on the road stopping four to five times in Athens, Meigs and other neighboring counties, checking on a hog that's sick, a cow that's having trouble giving birth or a horse with ligament trouble.
Traveling with Smith on all his road trips is his sheep dog, Ruff.
Saturdays are usually set aside for minor calls, if necessary or Pete may be found spending time working on his farm.
"Usually I never stop working. Being a veterinarian people appreciate what you do for their animals and I enjoy the smooth flow of a good team working together," grinned Pete.
Smith's clinic team consists of six staff members, two who are trained as registered animal technicians.
Besides caring and treating the animals, Smith's staff tends to the lab records.
Pete's expertise with horses took him to Brazil three years ago, his farthest journey to care for horses. He was the on-call veterinarian for the "Wonderful World of Horses Show" - the second largest horse show in the world.
Luck has not always been as good for the Augusta, Maine native. In 1962, he began his first year of practice in Lamar, Colorado. There was no rain in Lamar that year, so many of Pete's patients died. He dawdled in riding horses in the rodeo, but wasn't pleased with himself.
"I was probably the most unsuccessful cowboy in the history of rodeo," he said referring to his cowboy and bronco busting days for the Diamond Cattle Company in Colorado.
In 1963, he packed up and moved to his farm near Amesville. Pete's days of hard riding have settled down and he spends his weekends riding around his 1,300 acres of land with his family.
When time permits he takes a light job in the country.
Pete doesn't bronco bust horses nowadays, he just treats busted horses.
Have a great week ahead.
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Through captivating, powerful, and emotional anecdotes, we celebrate the life of Dr. Abbott P. Smith. His biography takes the reader from smiles to laughter to empathy and tears. Dr. Smith gave us compelling lessons learned from animals; the role animals play in the human condition, the joy of loving an animal, and the awe of their spirituality. A tender and profound look into the life of a skilled veterinarian.
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