Features

It was the day after Thanksgiving. While many were recovering from turkey coma, or out battling the crowds on the biggest shopping day of the year, I was meeting Dr. Shirley Kittleson at her clinic: Goldmount Veterinary Center, just south of Sherburn, Minnesota.

Prior to the interview, I had heard many things about Dr. Kittleson that intrigued me. First, I heard that people come from all over to have Dr. Kittleson care for their horses. I also was informed that Dr. Kittleson was Miss Minnesota in 1971. And finally, I had heard that she owned a cougar. Upon meeting Dr. Kittleson, all were confirmed.

Dr. Kittleson grew up on the same home place where her clinic is now located. The daughter of Truman and Mildred Kittleson, she already knew that she wanted to be a veterinarian by the age of five. She grew up working with and showing horses. Her dad owned a herd of 100 horses when she was young, and even exported some of his stock to countries such as Iran and Australia. The Kittlesons had focused on perfecting the golden coloring in saddlebreds.

Shirley’s mother, Mildred Kittleson, took joy in showing off her beautiful daughters by entering Shirley and her sister Kathy into beauty pageants. Mildred even made the outfits and gowns that her girls wore in the competitions. In 1971 Shirley was crowned Miss Minnesota. She then went to Miami, Florida for the Miss USA Pageant. Shirley had a really fun time getting to meet all the other contestants and spending time with them. She found it interesting to see how each woman viewed the pageant. Some were very competitive and fierce, while others, like herself, were just in it for the experience.

Shirley earned her Doctorate of Veterinary Medicine (DVM) at Iowa State University in 1972. From there, she went to the east coast for an internship at the Animal Medical Center in New York, New York. The AMC is the world’s largest small animal hospital and while there, Dr. Kittleson became one of the four department heads.

Also while on the east coast, Dr. Kittleson was involved in a research program at Doris Duke’s estate. Doris Duke was one of the wealthiest women in the world at the time and the founder of the Doris Duke Charitable Foundation that supports medical research, the arts, the environment, as well as child abuse prevention. Shirley lived right on Doris Duke’s 300 acre New Jersey farm for three years while doing research through the AMC and caring for Doris’s dogs.

Elvis Presley even called upon the expertise of Dr. Kittleson when his dog, Getlo, was seriously ill. Presley sent his dog from Memphis to Boston on his private jet to be treated by her. She had to perform specialized procedures and numerous blood transfusions from her own pet to save The King’s precious canine. Elvis had rented a suite of rooms in the Copley Plaza Hotel for Dr. Kittleson to work on Getlo. The procedures were done in secrecy in order to protect Elvis’ dog from being kidnapped. They were fearful that the dog would be taken and held at ransom against the pet’s famous owner.

After her internship, Dr. Kittleson moved across the country to Washington State to complete her residency in equine surgery. It was during this time that Shirley met her ex-husband, Tim Crawford, who she later brought home to Sherburn, to start the small animal and equine practice.

Back in southern Minnesota, Shirley and Tim went to work converting the stables on the home place into a clinic. Goldmount Veterinary Center has the capability to hospitalize many patients: there are 31 horse stalls and a cage room for the small animals. Dr. Kittleson takes and develops her own x-rays and performs a lot of her own lab work. The lab work that she sends out goes to a place near Chicago, Illinois.

Dr. Kittleson can send out a blood sample one day and receive the results by fax the next day.

Dr. Kittleson has had her practice south of Sherburn since 1979. Over the years, she has built a sound reputation for her skills as a small animal and equine vet. In fact, word of her proficiency with horses and small animal surgery has drawn clients from South Dakota, Wisconsin, Iowa, and Missouri.

Dr. Kittleson does a lot of referral surgeries. In fact, she has so many surgeries scheduled each week that she dedicates Tuesdays exclusively to them. If she cannot fit all the surgeries into Tuesday, she will do the remaining ones on Thursday. The procedures typically take two to three hours each. There are exceptions, though. On one occasion, Dr. Kittleson was in surgery for eight hours working on a mare whose uterus had ruptured during foaling.

Other than surgeries, Dr. Kittleson’s typical day consists of meeting with various patients by appointment, treating in-patients, and doing many phone consultations. She stays close to schedule unless an emergency of some sort comes up. Goldmount’s busiest season is during March, April, and May when people are focused on getting their mares foaled and re-bred, and their animals ready for shows during the summer months.

Although Dr. Kittleson specializes in small animals and horses, she is not limited to them; she has also worked on exotic animals. A monkey named George needed surgery after a dog bit his little hand. George is back to his usual monkey business now because of Dr. Kittleson’s skills.

Dr. Kittleson’s employees are essential to the smooth running of Goldmount Veterinary Center. Benadene McMurtry has been there for over 20 years and was busy washing down the floor of the surgery room to get it ready for its next use when I first walked in. Sarah Franzen of Alpha does the bookwork and Jackson resident, Kim Lewis, also a 20-year staff member, runs the gas anaesthesia during surgeries. Dr. Kittleson said that Kim’s the best anaesthesiologist around! She has the most critical role of keeping the animal alive while Dr. Kittleson does the procedure.

Jamie Jones is the newest employee at Goldmount. She cares for the barn patients and keeps Dr. Kittleson aware of any eating or demeanor changes in the horses. First year vet student Angela Marthelar also helps in all areas of the practice when she is not in school. When more strength and assistance is needed during surgeries, especially those of the orthopedic nature, Dr. Kittleson often calls on the help of her son Chase Crawford or Greg Johnson.

Being able to interact with both animals and people is something Dr. Kittleson really likes about her career. Since Dr. Kittleson has had her practice in the area for 26 years, she has been able to develop many good relationships with the people who bring in their animals. She has even been able to enjoy seeing second generations come in with their pets.

Dr. Kittleson finds her career very satisfying and would recommend it to other women without reservation. She said that being a veterinarian takes devotion and that it is certainly not a part-time job. It takes a lot of time and energy but is extremely rewarding. Dr. Kittleson noted that there’s nothing better than having a lame dog come in for surgery and then seeing him out hunting again because of what she’s done. The results bring an immense sense of satisfaction.

Since her career is so time consuming and demands a great amount of focus, she attributes her success in part to a big support system. She is thankful to all the help she’s received from her parents and many other people over the years.

Meeting with Dr. Kittleson was an honor. I can see why people drive hundreds of miles to tap her expertise. Their animals are clearly in capable hands with

Dr. Kittleson.

Associate Editor’s Note: By the way, the aforementioned cougar’s name is Sierra and she’s been with Dr. Kittleson and her family for 12 years.