Meet Cher Canaday and Pamela Johnson of Dogwood Veterinary Hospital and Laser Center in Newnan

Today we’d like to introduce you to Cher Canaday and Pamela Johnson.

Thanks for sharing your story with us Cher and Pamela. So, let’s start at the beginning and we can move on from there.
Pam: For as long as I can remember I wanted to be a Veterinarian. After my mother passed away when I was 7, my father raised my 3 brothers and I on a farm. There I grew up with horses, cows, dogs, cats and a few other creatures. My other love was basketball which led to a four year athletic scholarship and a degree in Mass communications. My first career proved to be less than satisfying. I was continually drawn back to my passion in veterinary medicine, so it was back to college for a second undergrad degree at Auburn University followed by a Doctorate at Auburn School of Veterinary Medicine. After twenty two years at Dogwood I am reminded each day I made the right decision.

Cher: My road to becoming a veterinary practice owner was quite a journey. However, looking back, I can see with clarity how every step led me to the next and brought me to where I am today. I started in veterinary medicine over 20 years ago as an on-the-job trained veterinary assistant. I knew nothing of veterinary medicine, but had an interest in science/biology and animal experience through years in the show horse business as well as an Animal Science degree from UGA. I worked as an assistant on the northeast side of Atlanta for nearly 10 years before making a move for personal reasons to the Newnan area.

I was unfamiliar with Newnan, but luckily found Dogwood Veterinary Hospital and Laser Center and began employment there as veterinary technician. Before starting at Dogwood, I had completed and submitted my application to veterinary school. After working at Dogwood for only 10 months, I learned that I had been accepted to the UGA College of Veterinary Medicine. While I was there only a short amount of time before leaving for vet school, I knew that Dogwood would likely be my permanent home upon graduation. The quality of medicine and the level of support and mentorship I gained in that short time was remarkable, and I had fallen in love with Newnan and Coweta County as well.

I remained involved with Dogwood as much as I was able during my 4 year education, and in 2010 I returned as an Associate Veterinarian. My new role both as a doctor and as a mentor and leader to others has been amazing. In 2015, I was given the opportunity to purchase a partnership in Dogwood. It was an easy decision to become a permanent part of our amazing team and be able to continue to support Dogwood’s mission.

We’re always bombarded by how great it is to pursue your passion, etc – but we’ve spoken with enough people to know that it’s not always easy. Overall, would you say things have been easy for you?
Cher: My journey to Dogwood involved several challenges, all of which I look back on now as critical steps that brought me to where I am today. My move to Newnan was prompted by personal turmoil. I was going through a tough divorce and felt I needed a clean break. In addition, I had submitted an application to veterinary school the year prior and had just received notice that I had not been selected. I was unsure of how I was going to support myself and I was emotionally conflicted. This was a challenging time, and finding Dogwood was definitely a light that guided a new path.

Pam: One of Veterinarians’ primary roles is to prevent the spread of disease from animals to humans, known as zoonotic disease. This is why we are passionate about educating the community on the need for routine heath examinations, proper immunization and general good health practices. We are also responsible for keeping foreign diseases out of this country to protect our community and society. We have to understand diseases across multiple species including, humans and how these diseases can be identified and treated; and, if necessary, precautions that need to be taken to end the spread of the disease. The average cost of keeping a dog or cat for 12 years is approximately $17,000. Improper internet research can and has led to poor health management and in some cases, even death. Always ask a reputable veterinarian first.

So, as you know, we’re impressed with Dogwood Veterinary Hospital and Laser Center – tell our readers more, for example what you’re most proud of as a company and what sets you apart from others.
Cher: Dogwood Veterinary Hospital and Laser Center is a 3 doctor practice located in Newnan. Dogwood has been serving Newnan pet owners for over 20 years and has been AAHA accredited since 1991. AAHA (the American Animal Hospital Association) is a regulatory and support association for veterinary practices. Accreditation is completely voluntary, and less than 20% of veterinary practices in America are AAHA accredited.

Practices that undergo accreditation subject themselves to close scrutiny and are evaluated on over 900 standards of veterinary care and business practice. These standards include pain management, anesthesia safety, personnel training and safety, client education and record maintenance. We are very proud to be one of the few veterinary hospitals to maintain our accreditation as a sign of dedication to our clients and their pets.

Our goal is for Dogwood to be seen as a premier veterinary provider for Coweta County.

We pride ourselves on providing the most current medicine in combination with empathy and understanding for our clients. As our name implies, we utilize both surgical and therapeutic laser in the treatment of many conditions including orthopedic and neurologic disease. Our core values are Excellence, Commitment, Compassion and we speak and practice these core values every day. We believe in caring for our owners as well as their pets for an overall positive experience.

Our Dogwood team also utilizes Fear Free methods whenever available. Fear Free is a new movement in veterinary medicine that concentrates on reducing stress and fear in our patients during visits. Concepts such as utilization of food rewards, calming pheromones and gentle restraint methods are implemented with much success. Many owners are amazed to see their pet completely unaware of vaccines because they are happily snacking or playing with a toy. This method is beneficial for everyone involved, not just the pet.

Pam: Dogwood Veterinary Hospital & Laser Center was founded in 1990 as a small animal practice. We focus on small animal, exotics and orthopedics which has proven to be a good decision. We are a value driven hospital where each day we strive to bring life to the words excellence, commitment and compassion. This is demonstrated in our investment in state of the art medical technology including laser therapy, cardiac ultrasound, digital x-ray and surgical laser. It is also reflected in our certification by the American Animal Hospital Association. This is the premier accreditation agency in North America only 18% of all veterinary hospitals in the US and Canada are able to adhere this certification. To attain this, we have to consistently demonstrate the highest quality of medical practices as well as sound business management. Dogwood is recognized locally for its excellence by other veterinarians in the region who refer surgical and non-surgical cases to us because of our proven capability. In 2016, we were honored by the Coweta County Chamber of Commerce as the small business of the year.

So, what’s next? Any big plans?
Continuing to grow with the community. Educating clients and developing the bond we have with the community and the clients.

We are looking forward to our annual Fall Festival. It happens every October and this year it is on October 14th. 10am-2pm. We have BBQ, Carnival Games, Face Painting, Professional Cat and Dog Photographer Anan Lombardi (must sign up ahead of time by calling the office), photo booth, dunk tank, huge slide, King of Pops and King of pups most importantly we have a costume contest for your pets and your kids with great prizes. We also raffle off great prizes every 30 minutes.

Contact Info:

• Address: Dogwood Veterinary Hospital and Laser Center
  24 Hospital Road,
  Newnan, Georgia 30263
• Website: www.dogwoodvet.com
• Phone: 770-253-3416
• Email: office@dogwoodvet.com
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/dogwoodvet/?hl=en
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/dogwood.veterinaryhospital.5/?ref=bookmarks
• Twitter: https://twitter.com/DogwoodVetHosp

Getting in touch: VoyageATL is built on recommendations from the community; it’s how we uncover hidden gems, so if you know someone who deserves recognition please let us know here.