Every now and then, when a curious kid wanders into the Sonoma Valley Pet Clinic, Dr. Adrienne Wood lets them put on her stethoscope, and listen to their pet’s heartbeat.
They remind her of herself, as a child growing up in the Valley. Wood took her animals to local vets when they needed treatment and she knew by age 10 that one day she’d be the one treating people’s pets on those tall metal tables. Unlike most kids, when Wood declared she wanted to be a veterinarian, she was actually stuck to her proclamation.
In February, Wood and her business partner, Dr. Peter Dowell, bought the clinic from BethAnn Palermo, who purchased the Arnold Drive business from Dr. John Switzer back in 2009.
The little building, measuring in at just 900 square feet, has been the Sonoma Valley Pet Clinic for decades, although its lease has changed hands a few times. Internally, it remains largely the same. When Wood and Dowell took over, they bought all of its equipment, the client list and held on to a few employees, one of whom had been with the clinic since Switzer owned the practice.
“It’s been kind of a staple in Sonoma for veterinary clinics for many, many years,” Wood said.
Cosmetically, a few upgrades have already been implemented: the building was repainted from its bluish gray and red door to a fresh black and white with a lime green door, an accent Wood particularly enjoys.
Wood has also upgraded some of the equipment, such as new lab testing materials which will allow results to come back same-day for sick dogs — faster than before.
For Wood and Dowell, the timing of their purchase was perfect.
Wood had been commuting to hospitals in Santa Rosa and Marin for years, and wanted to work closer to home so she could spend more time with her 6-year-old son.
Dowell has owned a practice in Mill Valley, Alto Tiburon Hospital, which he continues to run alongside the new local venture. He will be splitting his time between the two operations.
Wood and Dowell met through a veterinary technician who worked with both of them over the years. When the tech heard Wood might need a partner to take over a practice in Sonoma, he made the connection.
Wood spent years as chief of staff veterinarian at Banfield Pet Hospital in Santa Rosa. She liked the responsibility of being in charge, but being an owner didn’t appeal to her at first.
“I think I’m used to being a director and a leader in a hospital,” Wood said. “But I’m proud to have it be my own.”
Dowell has owned a handful of his own clinics, and has the expertise that Wood needs in a partner, plus a similar mindset when it comes to veterinary care.
When Wood and Dowell started making arrangements to buy the business from Palermo upon her retirement, it was the beginning of 2022. To strengthen their business relationship, Wood began working at Dowell’s clinic in Mill Valley until the Sonoma clinic was ready.
Like all new business owners, she had jitters, and worried the business wouldn’t thrive under new leadership. But those fears were laid to rest within her first few weeks.
“It’s a struggle to come in somewhere where the previous owner was so loved, but it’s going well,” Wood said.
The clinic, like most others in the US right now, has been busy, after many people adopted pets in the pandemic. The fact that Sonoma Valley Pet Clinic is taking on new patients right now is rare, as Wood expected a full schedule every day.
While the crisis seemed to peak during the pandemic, many clinics were still booked weeks in advance. Julie Dowell, Peter’s wife, has been instrumental in helping out on the administrative side.
But Wood is used to oversee lots of animals at once.
Growing up, she lived on a small farm with her family in Schellville, where she cared for chickens, goats and horses. She rode horses all through high school, and was set on specializing in equines. After graduating with her undergraduate degree from UCLA, she went to Ireland for six months to help a horse farm during breeding season.
She later returned to Sonoma and worked at Arroyo Animal Clinic for a while before heading to UC Davis to finish her vet schooling. It wasn’t until two years after she graduated with her doctorate that she decided to switch into small animal care, which is now her main focus.
“The best days are the days we really feel like we helped pets,” Wood said. “Like, there are days where we can literally say, ‘We saved that dog’s life.’”
Even though she’s switched to small animals, she still has big dreams for what the practice can become.
According to Wood, the plan is to expand in a few years by building a larger structure on a property, which will potentially be used to house a physical therapy clinic for pets who’ve just had surgery, or are dealing with an inoperable injury . Sarah Farnum, a registered veterinary technician who has worked for Wood on and off for years, is interested in the field, and could get certified if the plan comes to fruition.
In the meantime, the clinic is looking to expand internally with new personnel. The owners are currently looking for a receptionist and another vet technician. Interested individuals don’t need tons of experience to apply — just enthusiasm and reliability, Wood says.
You can reach Staff Writer Rebecca Wolff at [email protected]. On Twitter @bexwolff.
