Welcome to Yelm Veterinary Hospital!


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As many of you know, Dr. Jerry Brown passed away a few weeks ago. Many of our staff have been here for a decade or more and are still in mourning over the loss of such a well loved member of our Yelm Vet family. I'm sure you've seen the other social media posts about his many accomplishments - all of which are very well deserved, but we knew and loved the man, so this is to try and help you understand how great he really was and what a loss he is to us.

Dr. Jerry William Brown was a graduate of WSU in 1979, he joined Yelm vet in 1981 and became a full partner a few years later.
He was one of the 'three Amigos'- consisting of himself, Dr. Don Henricksen (founder) and Dr. Chuck Kegley. Under their leadership Yelm Veterinary hospital grew and became a valued community asset. Yelm has been an American Animal Hospital Association (AAHA) accredited hospital since 1998 - that accreditation is voluntary and consists of having the entire hospital (with all that entails) evaluated for proficiency and excellence in all aspects of animal care, including record keeping. It was something that they all strongly believed in.

Dr. B, aka JB believed in loving what you do, doing it to the best of your ability and having fun whilst doing it. No one was safe from his sense of humor and his pranks. He introduced us to many characters over the years, the ape man, the biker, 'ganja' man and the creepy clown, to name just a few. His smile and laughter were contagious and his pranks resulted in some epic return pranks from staff -which he loved πŸ™‚A master at evading staff /doctor meetings, he would procure food and then slip out like a stealthy Ninja. In Doctor meetings he would hide behind his wall of plants and trim his finger nails, just so you would yell at him to either stop or get out - thereby giving him permission to leave.

Even though he and Dr. Henricksen sold the practice in 2005, his love for his craft never abated and he continued to work here until shortly before his death.
Dr. Brown was the primary veterinarian for Wolf Haven for over twenty years and was also the license holder for our hospital's wild life rehabilitation permit. Under his 'umbrella' we have been able to save/rehab thousands of squirrels, raccoons, possums and birds (he had a particular fondness for Barn owls). We have also seen beavers, deer, hawks and Eagles come through for stabilization, on their way to specialized rehab facilities.
Through his work with the WSU preceptor program and World Vets, he was a mentor to so many veterinarians, including our own vets that are still here.
He was amazing, both as a person, with his zest for life and that mega watt smile and as an incredible surgeon, who never lost his compassion. Our entire teams hearts are deeply saddened by his passing.
They say that all the animals you have ever loved come to greet you when you pass on- if so, what a fantastic welcome he must've received. 'Til we meet again JB
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3/16/2022

In accordance with the WA mask mandate being lifted, along with the easing of some other COVID restrictions, effective Monday March 14th, 2022 we will be reopening our front lobby. We are unable to return to pre-COVID capacity yet, so please pay attention to the updated signs on the front boards, doors and parking spots. Surgery drop offs / pick ups and scheduled appointments will be able to come inside. We ask that you continue to call from your car, we will then let you know if you can come straight inside or if there will be a short wait. Only one (1) person per pet at this time. More people than that, the appointment will then be curbside.
Technician (non doctor) and walk in appointments will remain curbside at this time.
Curbside appointments are still encouraged and available for anyone who wants them.
Clients who have prescriptions, food or cremation ashes to pick up are welcome in the lobby. Please be aware that the number of people we can have in the lobby at any one time (including staff) is still restricted, so you may be asked to wait a moment.
Masks are encouraged - but not enforced.
If you are unwell, or have been exposed to COVID recently, please remain curbside. If you are showing signs of illness, you will be asked to leave.
Hopefully, this is just the first step towards whatever our new 'normal' will be.
Thank you for your support during the past two years, its been hard on all of us. Doctors and staff - Yelm Veterinary Hospital



9/27/21

Due to circumstances beyond our control, we will be closed on Saturdays in October. We hope to reopen on Saturdays in November. We will keep you posted.

Thank you for your patience as we navigate the changes in veterinary medicine.


Traveling Bag for Emergency Evacuation
For your pets
● Pet first-aid kit (you can purchase or make your own)
● 3-7 days’ worth of canned (pop-top) or dry food (be sure to rotate every two months)
● Disposable litter trays (aluminum roasting pans are perfect)
● Litter or paper toweling
● Liquid dish soap and disinfectant
● Disposable garbage bags for clean-up
● Pet feeding dishes and water bowls
● Extra collar or harness as well as an extra leash
● Photocopies and/or USB flash drive containing medical records ● Waterproof container with a two-week supply of any medicine your pet requires (food and medications need to be rotated out of your emergency kit or they may go bad or become useless)
● At least seven days’ worth of bottled water for each person and pet (store in a cool, dry place and replace every two months)
● A traveling bag, crate or sturdy carrier, ideally one per pet
● Flashlight
● Blanket
● Recent photos of your pets (in case you are separated and need to make β€œLost” posters)
● Especially for cats: pillowcase, toys, scoopable litter
● Especially for dogs: extra leash, toys and chew toys, a week’s worth of cage liner

For human family members 

● Batteries
● Duct tape
● Flashlight
● Radio
● Multi-tool
● Tarp
● Rope
● Permanent marker
● Spray paint
● Baby wipes
● Protective clothing and footwear
● Extra cash
● Rescue whistle
● Important phone numbers
● Extra medication
● Copies of medical and insurance information


coronavirus

We are OPEN!

We’d like to share some information about our newest response to COVID-19, and adjustments will be put into place effective as of March 24th, 2020: The measures we are currently taking will be adjusted as needed; 

Update as of April 30th, 2020

While we constantly strive to be available to serve you and your pets, unfortunately, due to staff shortages we will now be closed on Sundays in May. We apologize for any inconvenience that this may cause. We expect this to be temporary and will keep you updated with any future changes. Thank you for your understanding and patience during these challenging times.

Please read the following as some of our services may have temporarily changed.

We will be postponing all elective procedures not deemed urgently medically necessary in an attempt to maintain the necessary quarantine policies and limit exposure to our clients. Some procedures that have been postponed include; nail trims, anal gland expressions, elective surgeries (spays, neuters, dental cleanings, etc.) and more upon the discretion of our veterinarians. If you have any questions regarding services we will continue to offer please reach out and call or send a quick email to [email protected]. We are happy to answer any questions you have as best we can.

Please check out our online pharmacy! This is an option that will allow for home delivery while still supporting your local businesses. We can even email you a direct prescription request to save you some time, just let us know what you need!

What exactly is curbside concierge might you ask? It is a newly developed service we are now introducing. Our hospital will remain closed to the public and we ask you stay in your vehicle throughout the duration of being at our hospital. Give us a call to let us know you are here and identify your vehicle, and we will have one of our designated employees direct you on how we will proceed. For appointments and walk ins, we will come outside to grab your pet. We will take care of the rest, all while you wait in the comfort of your vehicle!

We hope that you stay safe and healthy. We are so grateful for your patience as we adjust our protocols and policies for the safety of you and our staff. Do not hesitate to reach out if you have any questions or concerns.

More information can be found on our Announcements Page.

Thank you!

*Updated April 30th, 2020*



Welcome to Yelm Veterinary Hospital!

Thank you for trusting us with your furry family member.





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Our Veterinarians!

| Dr. Jerry Brown, DVM | Dr. Emily French, DVM | Dr. Claire Griffin, DVM | 

                                                    | Dr. Michelle Raleigh, DVM | 

                                           Our entire team is proud to honor our own Dr. French in her recognition as Yelm's Best Veterinarian 2019 by the Yelm Awards Program.


We operate based on scheduled appointments, however, we do accept limited walk-ins and urgent cases, because sometimes peace of mind is priceless!

Regularly scheduled appointments & urgent patients will be seen prior to a walk-in. Wait time not guaranteed. 

As a military community, we are proud to offer a 10% discount to those who serve(d).            We also offer a 5% senior discount!

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Our Hospital first opened its doors on a plot of land, with a single-wide & a dream. The dream the original owners/doctors (now retired) built is still with us today. We are a "Patient Comes First" Practice, with availability everyday of the week, evenings, and weekends, with emergency triage - because disaster never strikes when you're ready! If you feel you have a Pet Emergency, call our office right away - someone will be able to guide to your next steps.

We are here for the whole family, because we love pets and their people too!

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Testimonial

  • "The people at Yelm Veterinary Hospital are very nice. They always have a smile for me and a sincerity that my pet can feel, even though she is always nervous when going to the vet. The medical service is impeccable and the customer service is great!"

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