PONTIAC — Becoming a veterinarian is no easy task. Not only does the profession require advanced expertise, but years of schooling (seven to eight years) are essential in emerging as a vet.
Along with this, the profession is very competitive. Around 30 colleges offer vet programs, which often means it is harder to get into vet school than medical school.
For Dr. Steve Haase, however, a deep love for animals did not let this fact sway him away from pursuing his passion.
“I grew up on a farm and always enjoyed working with animals,” Haase said. “I was always very fascinated with animals in general, especially wildlife. I always enjoyed pets like dogs and cats. That’s what led me to small animals.”
Haase said he changed his mind multiple times regarding what he wanted to do for a career, but it always came back to working with animals. Despite a want to move out west and deal with wildlife, Haase made the family decision to stay in the Midwest after finishing vet school at the University of Illinois. Since then, he worked at a clinic in Paxton for a year, a clinic in Bradley for a year, and is currently at the Animal Wellness Center of Pontiac, where he has been since 2003.
“I liked the small-town vibe,” Haase said. “I grew up in a smaller town. Through college I thought I wanted to end up in Colorado and move out west, but we (Haase and his wife) liked the Midwestern values and small-town life. That’s what eventually led me to working here in Pontiac.”
While Haase decided to remain in the Midwest, he explained that he still loves working with smaller animals and having the opportunity to change animals’ lives.
“The most rewarding feeling is when you can save a patient’s life,” Haase said. “Your pets are like family and we are very attached to them. When you’re actually saving a patient’s life and the clients are grateful, that’s probably the most rewarding part of the job.”
To successfully emerge in any profession, changing with the times is essential. For Haase, this means implementing different technological advances into his practice in order to more efficiently treat his patients.
Along with this, Haase feels like the newer technology helps make it easier for clients to stay up-to-date with their animals’ health. This, according to Haase, is very important for pet owners.
“My best advice to pet owners is to make sure you work with your vet for preventative care,” Haase said. “Regular check-ups can figure out if something is wrong with them. There are great treatments out there. I would say that’s the most important info, is to have your animal examined. Things can change with pets; pets can mask their illnesses for quite some time. People don’t always realize their animal is sick, which is why regular preventive care is huge.”
Likewise, Haase hopes pet insurance is something that people take more advantage of in the future, as care for pets will likely continue to go up in price.
“The cost of everything just continues to rise,” Haase said. “To allow people to take care of their pet properly, pet insurance will play a big role in the future to take care of pets.”
