Meet Dr. Lisa Shumate of Bonnie Brae Veterinary Hospital!
At nine years old, after confirming with her mom and dad that she was going to be too tall to be a racehorse jockey, Dr. Lisa decided she would become a veterinarian. In pursuit of that dream, she attended Texas A&M University (WHOOP!) and graduated Magna Cum Laude in 1995. She spent the next seventeen years in small animal practice in and around Houston and Dallas-Ft. Worth, Texas.
In 2012, she and her husband decided they were ready for a change of scenery (and climate!). They had often talked about living near the mountains someday, and that dream came true by the end of that year when they trekked halfway cross-country with their six dogs, three cats, and two horses. Since then, they have lived outside of Rutherfordton with their ever-evolving animal family made up of dogs, cats, chickens, and one remaining horse. They love WNC and plan to spend the rest of their lives here!
Over the years, Dr. Lisa has found her greatest passion to be educating pet owners and making veterinary visits as comfortable as possible for her patients. In 2018 she completed the Silver Level Certificate in Low-Stress Handling, which provided her with another level of empathy and compassion for her patients and her own pets, thanks to the late Dr. Sophia Yin. In addition to offering compassionate care during sickness and health through all phases of pets' lives, she also especially enjoys canine and feline behavioral counseling.
