Dr. Michelle Ward

Living beings and science have always fascinated me. In fact, I knew at an early age that I wanted to work with animals. I was born in Anchorage, Alaska, but raised mostly in Sandpoint, Idaho. When I was old enough for a card at the Bonner County Library, I checked out books on cow diseases. At age 10, I also started trying to get a job with a local vet.

The years came and went.  Life moved, on and many times obstacles blocked the path toward my dream.  My post-secondary education actually stretched out through 14 years and 3 degrees. After graduating from Ross University School of Medicine in 2009 and, as the first in my family to pursue advanced education and a doctorate, I finally achieved success and began living my dream as a practicing veterinarian.

Since then, I have explored many personal interests in veterinary medicine. For example, I started a mobile small animal/mixed practice in the Newport/Priest River area right after graduation and worked relief for many clinics in the Spokane, Wash., area for about nine years.  I spent considerable time at a small animal/exotics practice in the Lewis/Clark Valley near Washington State University as well.   

Then, after working in emergency medicine for a couple of years in Olympia, Wash., at an ER/Specialty Practice, I moved back to the Inland Northwest to work at an Urgent Care/ER in Spokane, Wash.   I love this type of veterinary medicine as it combines challenging cases with problem solving.  In short, I think I found my niche with Urgent Care/ER.   

I’m also a licensed wildlife rehabilitator as well as a field-service veterinarian for World Vets, International Aid for Animals.  These interests have allowed me to travel internationally, to meet other veterinary professionals and to share my love of veterinary medicine, as well as the challenges that come with working in non-traditional environments. 

Learning new ways to improvise and teaching others are my passions. In addition, combining travel with veterinary medicine has been a win-win for me.   I have also volunteered my skills as a Veterinarian at the 2021 Iditarod in Alaska, my birthplace.

Overall, I’m a “yes” kind of vet.  This can be both a blessing and a curse.  I try to help where I can, when I can, or find someone who can help because I care.  This, at times, happens at the expense of my own lifestyle and free time. 

Over the years, I’ve observed how my profession is changing and how the need for veterinary access is becoming greater to be available 24-7 for our furry friends.  Nonetheless, I also see how this is not reasonable or sustainable in the long-term for your day-time veterinarian. 

Having always dreamt of having my own practice, it became very clear to me that I could achieve this dream, as well as fill a need in my community.  As one who is very proud of my roots, I want to give back.  Doing so fills my cup.  In addition, my community benefits from having exceptional care available to them when they may be at their worst and need after-hours care from their family veterinarian.

On a personal note, I currently have four small dogs with two having special needs.   The number and type is continuously changing!   As an additional project throughout my career so far, I have taken on 60 surrendered or homeless animals that had fixable medical problems or that needed procedures and have found them all homes.  I think this is my current hobby :)

Licensed to practice in both Washington and Idaho, I feel very blessed to be able to work with skilled, knowledgeable, and caring veterinary technicians and staff at Family Pet Emergency Care. I also love going to work every day as well as meeting new people and their pet family members.

With this in mind, I am especially excited about solving problems for pets and their families that will ultimately provide a better quality of life. In a nutshell, through Family Pet Urgent Care, I can not only extend my lifelong dream but can also extend the precious time enjoyed by pets and their owners.