Good morning from Special Agent M2, call name “Bond”. I am a six year old black lab, I have competed in AKC Field Trials and AKC Hunt Tests. I am a titled Master Hunter, but the best thing in life is actually HUNTING and hanging with my owner friends!
What is a perfect day in my life? Cool, October morning, crouched in my mutt hut on watch for ducks as daylight dawns. Frost on the field, light wind, clouds on the horizon. Retrieving ducks is what I live to do. I am lucky, that is my job. In my line of work, I travel - pheasant hunting, duck hunting and goose hunting in several states and Canada. I spend summers competing in AKC Hunt Test competitions from Florida to California with my owner, Sylvia, and trainer friends Doug & Les. I will be at the Master Nationals competition in Kansas. At Nationals the tests are hard but I hope to come out of it with a Master National title. In September – our hunting season starts! I have the life! I retrieve ducks everyday and I have people who love me.
Bond’s owners, Terry & Sylvia Wolters, who work at Pipestone, are avid outdoor enthusiasts who spend much of their free time hunting, fishing or looking for hunting and fishing spots. “Having a well trained retriever is important to wildlife conservation. I would not hunt without a dog, they make the day! So enjoyable to watch them work.” “Many people have the wrong idea, hunting is not about the kill, it’s about being in the marsh, watching the world wake up around you” says Sylvia. “In my world, there are few things that give me greater satisfaction than me and Bond hunkered down in the marsh, on a snowy morning with the wind at our backs before dawn.”
degree of proficiency and effectiveness in the delivery of veterinary service to clients.
Asked to comment about receiving this award, Dr. Kerkaert replied, “Receiving this award was truly a humbling experience for me. I sincerely believe that we are the result of the persons that have been involved in our lives. I have been blessed to have been surrounded by family, friends and clients that have set good examples, and pushed me for my entire life. To them - I say thank you.”
Dr. Kerkaert and his wife, Karen, currently reside in Pipestone, MN. They have three children, Hayden, Jenna and Aubrey.
The Pipestone Vet Clinic is very proud and would like to congratulate Dr. Kerkaert and his family on this wonderful achievement.
This year the nine member team “Paws for a Cause” of the Pipestone Veterinary Clinic was hard at it again. A year full of lunches, raffles, deserts, and a large family rummage sale, we were able to raise a total of $2,597.75. We celebrated another year of success on June 14 at the Pipestone County Relay for Life. Pipestone County as a whole raised over $30,000.00. We could not have done it without all the employees help and generosity.
Nicole Weber, DVM
Hunting season is upon us. This means that if you have not started the conditioning process, now is the time to get your hunting dog in tip-top shape. Way too many dogs sit around all summer, only to be taken out for their first major work-out in 10+ months. This would be like us trying to run a 10k or marathon without doing any training. Gradually increasing exercise in any dog to the amount of hunting and swimming that they may encounter is strongly recommended. This process can take days to weeks depending on the body type and activity level of the dog. If you notice that the dog is stiff and sore during this conditioning period, or may be starting to have some arthritis problems as they age, please give us a call and we can formulate the best plan to alleviate uncomfortable joints.
Keeping the vaccinations up to date is also a very important part of this season. There are many diseases that they could encounter not only from wildlife, but also from being in large hunting dog parties. If you are unsure about your dog’s vaccination status, feel free to log onto www.PipestonePets.com to look at their vaccination history or give us a call at any time.
Safety first: It is recommended that you take frequent breaks for water as well as to allow the dogs time to cool down. If the dogs seem to be overheated you can take a rectal temperature to confirm. Normal temperatures range from 99.5-102.5 in our dogs and cats. Some dogs can have internal cooling problems and even display rectal temperatures as high as 105-106. These dogs need to be rested and cooled in order to prevent much more serious problems. If this should happen to you, please give us a call for the next step in protecting them. Using a chest protector can prevent many unwanted scrapes, cuts and lacerations. These items are very lightweight and often do not compromise the effectiveness of the dog in any way, yet can greatly decrease the risks of needing stitches. If you do notice that your dog has a cut or laceration, please seek medical attention right away. Keep them out of water, brush, dirt and debris once the laceration has occurred. Also avoid the old wives-tale stating “All dogs should lick their wound to help clean it”. The dog’s mouth is full of bacteria which are now being directly applied into the wound. This will only cause a worsening of the original problem. Gathering items for a first-aid kit would be a great idea, especially if hunting in very remote locations. An average kit should contain such items as gauze, tape, vet wrap, a tweezers, antibiotic ointment, gloves and a leash.
If you have further questions, please give us a call at 507-825-4211 and we would be happy to help. If you have an emergency situation- we can be reached around the clock at 507-825-5252.
