WRITTEN BY TIM MILHORN
three hearts yours, theirs, and ours Perhaps your vocation takes you across the country, and then across the Atlantic Ocean to another continent. You experience a life only dreamed of, and at the center of your life is the job you dreamed of as a child. For the fortunate few, this attainment of your life goal is a dream come true. However, deep inside you after the years of college, an internship, and working in Central Africa with the Mountain Gorilla Project, another dream has formed. It starts as nostalgia and develops into a yearning which then becomes a strong desire. Yet, this last dream is on one hand quite simple, and on the other your biggest challenge. For Doctor of Veterinary Medicine Dallas Wentz, the dream was to come back home, to the small valley city nestled against the Sierra Nevada Range—Oroville. On top of this was the challenge—build a state-of-theart veterinary hospital with a full surgical suite and the offer of compassionate care for your beloved pets. Coming back home was a no-brainer for Dallas Wentz. “I love the community. I love what I do, and I loved growing up in Oroville. That’s why I wanted to come back and make it my permanent home and workplace,” said Dr. Wentz. Not only were those goals 50
U P G R A D E D L I V I N G M AG A Z I N E J U N E 2 0 2 1
accomplished, but another lofty goal has also been attained. Three Hearts Veterinary Hospital is not only accredited by the American Animal Hospital Association— less than 15% of hospitals have this accreditation—but is one of the few hospitals owned by a woman. It turns out the veterinary field used to be a maledominated occupation. 2009 was the first year women outnumbered men—44,802 to 43,169. Yet, far more male veterinarians owned veterinary hospitals. Dallas Wentz wanted to change that. While she did successfully open a hospital, the fact remains that male vets make more money than their female counterparts. The gap is narrowing, but Dr. Wentz didn’t become a veterinarian to become a millionaire. “What Three Hearts offers is world class care coupled with compassion, and it comes with a small town feel.” Since Dallas has worked as an intern on the East Coast, and worked in 15 area veterinary hospitals, she knows the value of having a veterinary hospital in a town the size of Oroville. The hospital specializes in small animal care and provides a broad spectrum of diagnostic procedures based in-house and through external laboratories. The facility includes a well-stocked pharmacy,
in-hospital surgical suite, in-house x-ray and ultrasound capabilities, a supervised hospitalization area, and indoor kennels with an outdoor walking area. Dr Wentz is extremely proud of her team. “I’m fortunate to have a team of hardworking and compassionate individuals. They are expertly trained and have completed courses at local colleges and other institutions.” For anyone wishing to work in the veterinary field, Dr. Wentz pointed out that Yuba Junior College has a two-year program to become a Registered Veterinary Technician. The team offers not only sound advice about your pet, but also optimal care, allowing you to enjoy the companionship of your pet for years to come. “Our job is not only to treat your pet when he or she isn’t feeling well, but also help you learn how to keep your best friend happy and healthy.” Three Hearts treats not only cats, dogs, and small mammals, but they also treat reptiles and birds as well. If your pet needs a checkup, a vaccination, or is not feeling their best, please contact the hospital by calling at (530) 282-4156 or emailing reception@threeheartsvet.com. You can also visit their website, www.threeheartsvet.com, or their Facebook page.
