Dr. William Purdy first started working at Kentuckiana Animal Clinic when graduated from Auburn University in 1973. Now, as he reflects on his career, Purdy is thankful for his loyal clients and the opportunity to do what he loves.
“I grew up in a rural area, working on farms and taking care of the livestock,” Purdy said. “I raised sheep and had horses to take care of. I’ve been working with livestock since I was 10 or 12 years old, and had dogs ever since I can remember. I couldn’t do this job if I didn’t love it.”
Purdy, who will be retiring this year, says he’s had several special patients throughout the years who stand out to him, and he enjoys the challenge of difficult cases.
“I do orthopedics and we had an American Pitbull named MayMay who came in with a broken leg — it was shattered,” Purdy said. “Most would have chosen to amputate it. We stood beside her and got her better. It’s been at least 10 years, and she’s still around. Now when there’s a difficult case, we just remember MayMay.”
To Purdy, the opportunity to work through challenges is part of what fuels his passion. Sometimes those cases even meant taking the animal home with him.
“There are certain dogs that we never forget. I had a dog named Tick come in. He had been chewed up by another dog and almost died. His chest was crushed,” Purdy said. “I took him home with me, and had to get up in the middle of the night with him many times to suck air out of his chest. He still had a depression in his chest, but he survived. It makes you feel good when you’re successful.”
Even in the day-to-day duties of veterinary care, Purdy says he enjoyed his line of work, helping animals and getting to know his clients. With nearly 50 years of experience, he has met and treated animals for multiple generations from the same family.
“We’ve got a lot of loyal clients,” Purdy said. “I have treated the grandchildren of some of the clients I had earlier in my career. Over the years, I got to know a lot of people that became friends. I have enjoyed practicing here.”
Dr. Laura Boarman, who has been with the Kentuckiana Animal Clinic since she was 16 years old, started at the clinic in high school, continued to work summers there while in college and vet school, and has now been with the practice for nearly 20 years.
Team members like Boarman are what leave Purdy feeling confident about the future of the clinic.
After retirement, Purdy plans to visit his grandchildren, and take time to hunt and fish. He plans to raise a garden and says he’ll likely be busy doing something.
“I said I’d know when it was time to retire, and I know,” he said. “This is the type of job where you’re on your feet all day. By the second half of the day, I get tired and have to sit down. There are new people coming on and it’s time to make room for new people. I want to wish my clients the very best and I think they will be in good hands after I leave here.”
