I love my job
A New Definition of House Calls By Nancy Dewar
Veterinarians Dr. John Flood and Dr. Kate Domenico have taken the meaning of “we do house calls” to an entirely new level; sea level! As partners in Island Veterinarian Services based in South Portland, they provide residents of islands in Casco Bay with weekly boat service vet care; meeting them at the public docks to provide routine wellness checks, vaccinations, sick visits and small procedures. The four primary islands they serve are Peaks, Diamond, Long and Chebeague…all about a 30-minute boat ride away. Dr. Flood came up with this unique idea when he had Brackett Street Veterinary Clinic in South Portland. “We’d watch clients get off of the ferry and tow their dogs up the hill or lug their cat carriers up; and I thought there had to be an easier way for them to get general vet care,” John explained. Island Vet has been making house calls since 2003, and Dr. Domenico joined John as a partner about two years ago. Their shore-toshore services are offered from April through October, and clients call in advance to make appointments. They go out every Thursday and alternate the weekly trips between the two of them accompanied with a vet tech or assistant. If inclement weather strikes, rain dates are scheduled. It’s an early morning; leaving the marina around 7:00 a.m. and returning mid-afternoon, usually seeing an average of 10 to 12 animals a day. Their floating clinic, a 27’ Eastern named the Rita Joan, was made in Milton, New Hampshire.
Both have interesting backgrounds. John started Hampton Veterinary Hospital in 1979. He and his wife moved to New Zealand in the late ‘80’s where he did post-graduate work in small animal surgery. They moved back to the States a year later after their first child was born, and he opened a mixed-animal practice in Acton,
Maine, which he sold to an associate years later. His next venture was Brackett Street Veterinary Clinic which ultimately evolved into his current Island Vet Services. In 2008 John purchased 65 acres in Acton, which was the beginning of Terra Firma Farm, an organic farm he runs with his partner Dane Giallongo. They raise slow-grown, pastureraised organic lamb and chicken on the farm where their loyal dogs, John’s two Brittany Spaniels (Moxie & Mojo) and Dane’s young black Lab named Leo, roam freely.
Kate grew up in Chicago and moved to Maine eight years ago. While a board member at the Maine Veterinary Medical Association, Kate met John’s daughter in law who told her that he was looking for someone to help on the boat. “I jumped at that! I couldn’t think of doing anything better!” In addition to her weekly island visits and her full-time work in emergency and critical Care at Maine Veterinary Medical Center in Scarborough, Kate also is a Veterinary Medical Officer for the National Veterinary Response Team of the Department of Health and Human Services. So, what does that mean, I asked! “Vets are deployed at all large government events to care for the Secret Service dogs. For example, national political conventions. We go where the dogs go.” When Kate hits the sea, her girl River
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usually joins her…as Labs are right at home on the water.
I love John and Kate’s job! What fun to be on the ocean, visiting islands in Casco Bay and meeting locals with their precious pups. But, oh yeah… I could never stomach the medical part of it. I can’t even look at a needle! However, I’m joining John on the water in this fall and am excited to experience their “island house calls” first-hand. It will be a day to remember, for sure; and I’ll just look away when needed! (IslandVetService.com) (TerraFirmaMaineFarm.com)
