812-Lancaster Farming, Saturday, October 23, 1993
Dr. Lisa Doherty and her baby, Amy, do a checkup at the LaMalot Farm near Breezewood.
Dr. Doherty feels fortunate to be able to have it all, her baby and her career as a veterinarian.
Veterinarian Takes
Baby To Work
LINDA WILLIAMS
Bedford Co. Correspondent
BREEZEWOOD (Bedford
Co.)-“I never dreamed it would
work out this well,” says petite,
dark-haired. Dr. Lisa Doherty as
she plucks two-month-old Amy
Katelyn from her car seat outside
the llama bam of Joan Mellott.
“I’ve always wanted to be a vet,
but when I got married a few years
ago, I also found I wanted to be a
mother. Then, while I was preg
nant, I looked into day care
options and just didn’t like what
was available for newborns. I
wanted to take care of her
myself.”
Lisa did give up her full-time
job at the Veterinary Medical
Center. Them, just four days home
from the hospital she got a call to
geld a horse. “1 found it a wel
come change.” she admits. “I was
already getting tired of wandering
around the house waiting for the
baby to wake up."
Then others, like the Mellotts,
who found Dr. Doherty to be espe
cially good with llamas called.
When my husband wasn’t home, I
started taking Amy along and
have found it works out well,” she
says.
“I always tell my clients that I
have to bring my baby along and
they say. ‘No problem, we love
babies.’”
Recently she was called to
deliver a calf in the middle of the
night. Her husband’s strength
would be needed so, they both
packed up Amy and took her
along. The family took the baby
into the house and enjoyed her so
much they didn’t want to give her
back.
Another time, a 14-year-old
boy offered to hold the baby while
Lisa checked a cow.
Actually she admits that it
might be easier now than when
she was pregnant. She still recalls
the night she was called out in her
sixth month of pregnancy to aid
with a prolapsed uterus.
The cow was located in the
midst of a stand of trees about two
miles off the main road. Hysterics
were being produced by the cow’s
owner and Dr. Lisa didn’t know
who would give her the worst
problem.
After locating the cow. she
managed to get a rope iround her
neck. The cow, not really prefer-
ring the confined feeling took off
with Lisa, the farmer, and his wife
all hanging on. “I never told them
I was pregnant,” she laughs now.
“Anyway, we got the uterus fix
ed and I gratefully accepted a cup
of coffee and a place to clean up.
Then, came the big question.
Could I help with a sister-in-law
who was miscarrying and
wouldn't go to the hospital. I told
them 1 was sorry, but I drew the
line at humans. I don’t think they
ever did understand why I
couldn’t, do something for a
human if 1 could save a cow. But, I
did give them my best advice,
‘call an ambulance.’”
Lisa grew up in a suburban area
of Florida but always loved ani
mals. At age 11, she began assist
ing a neighborhood vet and it was
a dream she never erased from her
mind. Her immediate goal was to
be a wildlife conservationist
However, jobs in the field were
scarce and pay low, so she went
back to school and became a med
ical technichian.
“But a few years later, I still
felt the call of the animals and
knew I would never be satisfied if
I didn’t become a vet"
Fresh out of veterinary school.
Lisa entered the Peace Corps
where she was sent to Morocco.
Her main patients were camels,
sheep, goats, and mules.
“We didn’t study much about
camels in vet school,” she muses
now, “but I did do all the studying
I could do on my own before
going. Just let me say this about
veterinary work, camels are hor
rendous. They have huge mouths
and are not a treat to doctor. Fortu
nately, 1 didn’t have a lot of calls.
Most of them were military
camels.”
Despite being in a country that
considers women as second-class
citizens, Lisa found she was readi
ly accepted. “The women
accepted me and so did the men.
But, 1 always kept my head, arms,
and legs covered, so they
Pa’s New Living Will
Pennsylvania has adopted a liv- alive. An informational fact sheet
ing will law. The Advanced Direc- on the new law can be obtained
live for Health Care Act of 1992, from your State Senator’s office
giving people the right to legally or by calling the Lancaster County
choose the modern technology Cooperative Extension office at
they want employed to keep them 717-394-6851.
approved.
“Once in a while I would get a
call and the farmer would say,
‘Well, little lady, what are you
doing in those big boots?’
“Treating your animal’ would
be my quick response, and from
there on I never had any trouble.
Lisa always knew she could
have better hours, more comfort
able working conditions, and
higher pay if she would work
strictly as a small animal vet in a
big city.
“But, it’s not the same,” she is
quick'to say, “I love the variety of
being a country vet. I love talking
with the farmers and I empathize
with the problems they face today.
I wouldn’t trade what I do here for
anything. Besides, this is where I
met my husband, Patrick.”
Patrick is an automobile
mechanic, but enjoys accompany
ing his wife on calls when possi
ble. “His strength is a big help
with large animals,” Lisa says.
Despite loving her work, Lisa is
always aware of the dangers of
working on large animals. “You
have to plan ahead,” she says.
“And, use restraints. Also, you
never want to hurt an animal so
it’s best to give them anesthesia
when possible.”
Eventually, Lisa says she will
probably return to her job at the
Everett Center where she gives a
lot of credit to Drs. Tarpley and
Poor for helping her with her
career. “They have always been
willing to send me to seminars to
study more about some of the exo
tic animals we are seeing today
such as llamas,” she says.
Lisa has a llama of her own, a
gift from her client, Joan Mellott
of La Malot Farm.
Until Amy reaches the toddler
stage, Lisa says she is thankful to
be in a situation where she can
work and take care of her baby all
at the same time.
Chubby, glowing, baby Amy,
seems to And the situation just as
agreeable.
Law
See your nearest
INEW HOLLAR
Dealer for Dependable
Equipment and
PENNSYLVANIA
Annvllle. PA
BHM Farm
Equipment, Inc.
RDI, Rte. 934
717-867-2211
Carlisle. PA
R&W Equipment Co.
35 East Widow Street
717-243-2686
DavMsburg. PA
George N. Gross, Inc.
R.D. 2, Dover, PA
717-292-1673
Elizabethtown. PA
Messick Farm
Equipment, Inc.
Rt. 283 - Rheem’s Exit
717-367-1319
Halifax. PA
Swetgard Bros.
R.D. 3, BOX 13
717-896-3414
Honey Brook, PA
Dependable Motor Co.
East Main Street
215-273-3131
215-273-3737
Honey Grove, PA
Norman D. Clark
& Son, Inc.
Honey Grove, PA
717-734-3682
Loysville, PA
717-789-3117
MARYLAND
Frederick, MD
Ceresville
Ford New Holland, Inc.
Rt. 26 East
301-662-4197
Outside MD,
.800-331-91.22
NEW JERSEY
Bridgeton, N.J.
Leslie G. Fogg, Inc. Smith Tractor &
Canton & Stow Creek Equip., Inc.
Landing Rd. 15 Hiltcrest Ave.
609-451-2727 201-689-7900
609-935-5145
Woodstown, NJ
Owen Supply Co.
Broad Street &
East Avenue
609-769-0303
Hughesvllle. PA
Farnsworth Farm
Supplies, Inc.
103 Cemetery Street
717-584-2106
New Holland. PA
A.B.C. Groff, Inc.
110 South Railroad
717-354-4191
Oley, PA
C.J. Wonsidler Bros.
R.D. 2
215-987-6257
Pitman, PA
Schreffler Equipment
Pitman, PA
717-648-1120
Quakertown, PA
C.J. Wonsidler Bros.
R.D. 1
215-536-1935
Tamaqua, PA
Charles S. Snyder, Inc.
R.D. 3
717-386-5945
West Grove, PA
S.G. Lewis & Son, Inc.
R.D. 2, Box 66
215-869-2214
Iton, NJ
Washli