Growing up, Steven Albritton did not have any siblings – at least not human anyway.  Instead, he was surrounded by animals. Cats, dogs, rabbits, hamsters – you name it, his family adopted it. But the young man saw the animals as more than just pets. They were cherished members of his family.

In fact, there was one dog that shared a special bond with him as a child. His parents adopted Briar, an English Setter, before he was born. Briar used to go dove hunting with the young man’s father. She was an excellent hunter, but also enjoyed lazy days as well. The child’s parents were not worried about how Briar would react to having a newborn in the house.

As the new parents had suspected, Briar took quickly to their new son. The day the infant came home from the hospital, Briar jumped in the crib beside him. She often slept beside him when he napped in his crib. She never strayed too far from him either. She was always protecting him, making sure he was safe.

Briar even put up with the toddler’s typical childhood antics. When the child used to roll toy cars on Briar’s belly or dress her in cowboy hats, she dealt with it. Many times, he plopped on her back and squealed, “Giddy up horsey!” And while some dogs might snap at such treatment, Briar just sat there contently. She never once nipped at the boy or got angry with him.

As the child got older, he never stopped paying attention to Briar. He took her on walks around the 10-acre family farm. And on hot summer days, they cooled off by splashing around in the creek. Like all dogs, Briar certainly enjoyed playing fetch and chasing balls. But her favorite times were snuggling with the young lad in front of the television.

One day, the boy’s parents delivered some devastating news to him. Briar was hit by a car and died. The child ran to his room, locked the door and mourned for his best friend for hours that night. The next day, Albritton and his family buried Briar on their family property. Today, she still rests peacefully on a hill near the creek with a wooden cross atop her grave.

The experience the young man shared with Briar had a lasting effect on him. Steven Albritton found true joy in befriending and helping animals like Briar. And it was a feeling he decided he never wanted to see go away. That’s why he enrolled in the veterinary medicine program at North Carolina State University. Today, he is the owner of Albritton Animal Hospital in Orange County, North Carolina.

“My family had many dogs after Briar, but I really bonded with her,” he has said.  “There was something special about her. I decided that I wanted to help other animals, like I did with Briar. I wanted to make a difference in their lives. I thought becoming a veterinarian was the best way to do that.”

N.C. State’s College of Veterinary Medicine (CVM) was founded in 1985. The college enrolls 312 students, with 146 of those being graduate students, and 81 interns and residents. Also, it has earned prestigious recognition from U.S. News & World. The college is ranked third among the nation’s 28 veterinary medicine colleges.

Veterinarian Steven Albritton was impressed with the college’s campus and layout. CVM encompasses a 100,000-square-foot College Research Building with 33 state-of-the-art labs. In addition, the building has two advanced BioSafety Level 3 labs for research on infectious disease.

As a Veterinarian student, he participated in internships and helped treat patients. CVM diagnoses and treats more than 20,000 patients each year. Most of the patients are referred to CVM. The patients that arrive at CVM are often seriously ill and require special care. CVM clinicians and students deliver the best care possible to its patients and their owners.

Steven Albritton: Animal Hospital Services

Established 10 years ago, Albritton Animal Hospital offers full veterinary services for an array of animals. AAH mostly cares for small animals, but does have experience helping farm animals. The founder or one of the other veterinarians can come on-site to care for farm animals. But that’s only because the building itself is not able to accommodate horses, cows, pigs and other farm animals.

Among the services available at AAH are:

• Wellness exams
• Vaccinations
• Heartworm and intestinal parasite testing
• Treatment for serious injuries, cancer and other diseases
• Laser and conventional surgery
• Nutritional products
• Toys, leashes, collars and other items
• Spay and neuter surgery
• Micro-chipping
• Emergency services
• Flea and tick prevention
• Pharmacy services
• House calls
• 24/7 care on-site

Another important service offered at the animal hospital is dentistry. Like humans, pets need regular dental care too. Dental diseases and bacterial infections can lead to serious health issues. The animal hospital offers dental cleanings, exams and other hygiene services. Remember, more than 85 percent of felines and canines more than 4 years old have dental problems.

Going away for a weekend or taking on a 10-hour workday? Take your pets to AAH. The facility boards and provides daycare for dogs, cats, reptiles and small animals. Kennels are spacious enough to fit beds, crates and other personal belongings.  Animals receive exercise daily, special treats and lots of loving from staff members.

Pictures and messages can get emailed to give owner’s reassurance their animal is having a wonderful experience. You can even ask for Fluffy or Fido to get groomed before picking him up. The hospital uses special dermatology shampoos and treatments on its clients, both cats and dogs. Your pet will leave smelling good, but also exhausted from playing all day.

AAH technicians and veterinarians are trained to handle behavioral issues.  They can handle cats and dogs that are very nervous about going to the vet. Many of them holler and scream or refuse to budge from the car in fear. But don’t worry, AAH can soothe them and make the experience a pleasant one.

No matter your needs, veterinarian Steven Albritton and his staff can handle it. Take your beloved pet to a person that is trustworthy, reliable and educated. Steven Albritton encompasses all those qualities. Animal lover Steven Albritton will do everything possible to keep your pet healthy for years to come.