For Dr. Payden Smith, veterinary medicine was never just a career path — it was the family business. A Cullman County native and 2014 graduate of Holly Pond High School, Dr. Smith grew up showing cattle and sheep, raising backyard chickens, and tagging along with his father, also a veterinarian, on house calls across the county. Those early years shaped more than his love for animals — they showed him the deep impact this work can have on a community.
He went on to earn his bachelor’s degree in Animal Sciences from Auburn University in 2017, followed by his veterinary degree from Auburn’s College of Veterinary Medicine in 2021. After graduation, he spent three years working alongside his father, assuming he would one day take over that practice. But life had other plans. After many conversations with Dr. Dennis Haynes, the opportunity to purchase East Point Veterinary Hospital came along, and it just felt right.
In January 2025, Dr. Smith took the helm of the clinic many in Cullman still remember as East Point Veterinary Hospital, now East Point Animal Clinic. While the name has changed, the heart of the practice hasn’t. Today, Dr. Smith carries forward decades of relationships, trust, and service, building on a legacy that has cared for generations of local families and their animals. It’s a responsibility he doesn’t take lightly, especially now that he’s raising two young daughters of his own, surrounded by a household full of pets.
East Point Animal Clinic holds the distinction of being the oldest active veterinary clinic in Cullman, established in the 1940s by Dr. Harry Farr. Over the decades, the practice evolved from mixed-animal care to a focus on small animals, all while holding onto what matters most: compassionate, dependable care. For Dr. Smith, honoring that legacy means blending modern veterinary medicine with the personal relationships that have made East Point a trusted name in Cullman for generations.
Ask Elayne and Emersyn Smith who their best friend is, and they won’t hesitate: Dolly, the family’s rescued Standard Poodle. For Dr. Smith and his wife, Caitlyn, watching that bond grow between their daughters, ages 4 and 2, and the family dog has been one of the unexpected joys of parenthood — and a living example of everything he believes about pets and kids.
“Pets can play an incredibly important role in a child’s life,” Dr. Smith says. “They teach responsibility, compassion, patience, and empathy.” But he’s quick to add that bringing a pet into the home is a commitment, not a whim. Raising children already keeps a household plenty busy, and adding an animal means adding time, training, and consistency to the mix. Not every family’s lifestyle is suited to a dog, he says, and that’s perfectly fine — the goal is finding the right fit, whether that’s a dog, a cat, or even a leopard gecko.
When it is the right fit, though, Dr. Smith believes the payoff is immeasurable. It’s a lesson he and Caitlyn live out daily at home, where their two daughters are growing up alongside not just Dolly, but the family’s two other dogs, Hiro the Yorkie and Rose the Doberman Pinscher.
Outside the clinic, life for the Smith family centers on faith, family, and the outdoors. They’re active members of Mt. Zion Baptist Church and spend much of their free time together outside, often with their pets in tow. Dr. Smith, an avid runner who competes in half marathons, also treasures quiet weekend trips with Caitlyn and the girls — when his on-call schedule allows.
And yes, the pets do have a say in how the household runs. Plans, schedules, and routines often bend around Dolly, Hiro, and Rose, each of whom expects to be included in whatever the family is doing. For the Smiths, that’s simply part of the deal. The pets aren’t just animals in the house — they’re family, full stop, and Dr. Smith wouldn’t have it any other way.
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Founded: 1940s by Dr. Harry Farr — the oldest active veterinary clinic in Cullman
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Owner: Dr. Payden Smith, a Cullman County native and Auburn University graduate
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Services: Wellness exams, vaccinations, in-house bloodwork, digital radiology, ultrasonography, laser therapy, dental care, and routine surgical procedures
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Patients: Dogs, cats, sheep, goats, pigs, backyard poultry, and select exotic species
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Dr. Smith and his wife, Caitlyn, are raising daughters Elayne (4) and Emersyn (2), alongside three dogs — Dolly the Standard Poodle, Hiro the Yorkie, and Rose the Doberman Pinscher
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East Point continues to welcome new and longtime patients alike, carrying forward decades of trust built across generations of Cullman families
724 US Hwy 278, Cullman 35058 256-734-6060 eastpointvetclinic.com