LEONARD GRAY / L’Observateur / May 13, 2000

DESTREHAN – There are many types of home occupations in St. CharlesParish, but a veterinarian who makes house calls may be one of the more unusual.

Dr. Kimberly Michels of Destrehan, originally from Texas, has practiced in theNew Orleans area for 21 years. Fourteen years ago she began her practiceof making outpatient calls by appointment.

Now she’s known throughout Orleans and Jefferson parishes, and since moving to Destrehan in December she is expanding her patient list to include St. Charles and St. John the Baptist parishes.In February she obtained her home occupation license and sees her furry patients in the comfort of their own homes, all her necessary equipment in her van or her bag.

“You don’t have to wait in a waiting room; they’re in their own homes,” Michels said. “You could be making dinner, whatever, and I’m doing my work.The stress level is much lower for everybody.”For anyone who’s ever tried to stuff a reluctant cat into a carrier or restrain a dog on a leash in a waiting room filled with ailing or injured dogs and cats, this is a welcome change.

She sees no animals in her home and only maintains a home office and keeps a limited supply of equipment there. When making her calls she totes acanvas bag stuffed with medicines and equipment.

Michels also continues to work with Chateau Veterinary Hospital in Kenner, where she directs emergency calls and handles her labwork. However,anything from vaccinations to blood work can be done in her routing house calls.

“Eighty percent of a pet’s health care can be done at home,” Michels said.

Prices are comparable to any other veterinarians. “There’s no extra fee forhouse calls,” she added.

Michels has another compelling reason not to maintain a veterinary clinic of her own – her family. For this reason a home occupation business makes evenmore sense with her husband and their four children, ages 5 through 10.

This way she’s more accessible and available to her family without them wondering so much when she’s coming home.

The Michels family has pets, of course, including a cockatiel, an Abyssinian cat named “Abby” and an Irish setter named “Legend.”Legend has become a junior partner in the business, especially when Michels talks to elementary school classes, especially at New Sarpy Elementary, where her children attend school a block from home.

Michels sees it as important for her to talk to children, and she brings Legend along. She recently allowed Joan McClung’s second-grade class,including her daughter Amy, to “help” in an examination of her dog.

In the process she quizzed them on the needs of pets and responsibilities of pet owners and illustrated her own love for animals through her work.

“It’s a very small, very personal practice,” Michels said. “I don’t see manyclients a day. Ten appointments is a busy day.”

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