From the time Dr. Forrest Reynolds was 12 years old and working on a dairy farm, he loved being around and taking care of animals. At 18, he started working for Williamson County Animal Hospital (WCAH), and his job duties were not glamorous. “I mopped the floors, dipped the dogs, and answered the telephone,” he says. He also went out on farm calls, helping care for the livestock, which really ignited his passion to pursue a career in veterinary medicine. He continued to work at WCAH all through
undergraduate school and even on and off after he was accepted at the University of Tennessee College of Veterinary Medicine. He met his wife Judith there, and after she finished her veterinarian degree, they came back to Franklin, where he found himself once again at WCAH.
“Drs. Donnie Headrick and Paul Vaden started this practice in 1975, and I was lucky enough to work for them,” says Dr. Forrest. He eventually became partner, and now owns the business with his brother, Dr. Shaun Reynolds. His second oldest son, Dr. James, and his son’s wife, Dr. Melissa, are all part of the family business.
“This is my community, and this is what I do,” he says. “It’s my life’s work. Along with my faith in God and my family, this animal hospital is what I have. You wake up one day, you're 61 years old and you own half the business, and you look back and realize what an amazing career it has been. It’s the best profession on earth. You're taking care of creation and being a steward of what God puts in your hands, including the pet owners.”
Being at the hospital for so long has allowed him to care for multiple generations of family’s pets. “Our motto is and continues to be that we treat every animal that comes in the front door as if it were our own pet. It's a service industry and we're here to serve.”
Unlike many veterinary practices, WCAH is a full service animal hospital. Services include an urgent care facility with extended hours as well as a place for non-emergent, routine needs. Of course, being available for so many hours takes its toll, but Dr. Forrest does find ways to relax. “I play guitar and sing to my grandbabies. I also drive a team of Percheron draft horses, which is my therapy, along with fly fishing.”
WCAH.org
