Caring for a family's furrier members

Local doctor named Veterinarian of the Year

Greg Popp poses with Thatcher at his veterinary practice, Weathered Rock Veterinary Clinic in Jefferson City. Popp has been in business since 1980.
Greg Popp poses with Thatcher at his veterinary practice, Weathered Rock Veterinary Clinic in Jefferson City. Popp has been in business since 1980.

Working on the farm and growing up around animals led Dr. Greg Popp into a lifelong career as a veterinarian.

In January, Popp, who owns Weathered Rock Veterinary Clinic, was named Veterinarian of the Year by the Missouri Veterinary Medical Association.

Popp, who has been practicing in Jefferson City since 1980, said when dealing with pets you're dealing a member of a family.

"You have to have a pretty good bedside manner because the owners want all the qualities that a medical doctor has," he said.

One of the reasons Popp said he has kept in practice is the relationships he's built with clients.

"I'm now treating second and some third generations of families, and that feels good," he said. "It's very rewarding."

Starting when he was a teenager, Popp remembers working at a local veterinarian's office and seeing him take care of a badly injured cat.

"He sewed the cat's wounds, and I never forgot how he did that," Popp said.

Popp has seen many changes and advancements in the care of animals, which he said has led to them living longer lives.

"Technology has allowed us to better treat fractures and new medicines to deal with things such as diabetes and cardiac problems," he said. "Due to these medicines and preventive care, their quality of life has improved."

Popp said being a veterinarian usually means few dull moments on the job.

"It's really funny sometimes because people come in and their kids are running around, the dogs are running around, so there's a lot of activity," he said. "Then we bring the dog into the exam room, and oftentimes the kids will stand in the corner and watch and observe how we treat the dog. So that calms the animal and their owners down."

He's had several clients or family members of clients who have gone on to become veterinarians themselves.

"One of my clients who went on to get into a practice told me she remembers when she was a little girl, I was the only one who talked to her about her pet while I was treating it," Popp said. "She was interested in what I was doing and asked questions so I spoke to her and that left an impression."

The future of veterinary medicine is wide open, he said.

"Anywhere from cancer research, shelter medicine, there's even been a veterinarian who's gone into space to do studies," Popp said. "Most people love their pets, and I love what I do. I'll have to eventually retire, but for now, keep on truckin'."