Dr. Rowan supervising his daughter on how to perform surgery on her stuffed kitty. (The kitty came out fine. It had "swallowed" a Qtip.)
In Kelowa’s South Pandosy neighborhood, you might see your family (animal) doctor walking his dogs down the street or his kids to school.
Why? Because Dr. Jason Rowan lives right in your neighborhood.
Jason and his wife Arnica, along with their two little girls, two dogs, two cats, and seven fish, call South Pandosy home. They’ve chosen to invest in the growing urban neighbourhood and set up their family-run clinic and boutique within walking distance of their home.
Jason grew up far from an urban setting, as a farm boy. He grew up getting his hands dirty on a cattle farm, near a “huge town of 400 people”. His father was a veterinarian, and even though Dr. Merv passed when he was young, Jason inherited his love of animals and veterinary medicine.
Some people have inordinate focus: that’s Jason. He worked through high school with one goal in mind… get into vet school. After only two years in agricultural studies, Jason made it into the Western College of Veterinary Medicine. Four years later, he went straight into mixed animal practice in Lloydminster, Alberta, near his home town. He worked hard for six years, practicing medicine on an astounding array of animals: cats, dogs, cattle, horses, sheep, goats, hedgehogs, bison, elk, porcupines… you name it. IF you want to hear a funny story, ask him about trying to castrate a porcupine!
In the meanwhile, Jason met his wife Arnica. They decided that the crazy schedule of a mixed animal veterinarian was not the way they wanted to raise their family. So they looked for a place back in Arnica’s home province of BC, that had was close to relatives and boasted lots of outdoor recreation.
In 2006, the couple moved to Kelowna and Jason refocused on exclusively small animal medicine (ie: cats, dogs, cattle, horses, sheep, goats, hedgehogs, bison, elk, porcupines.) Jason loved it – he had found his niche. He loved working with clients, and focusing on providing the best possible care for companion animals. In the Okanagan, he found some great mentors and enjoyed working for excellent veterinarians.
Jason has now been a vet for 10 years. Owning his own clinic had always percolated in the back of Jason’s mind. He wanted to follow in his father’s footsteps, but to practice modern medicine in the community he now called home. In 2014, Jason will open Pandosy Veterinary Hospital.
We hope you will come to visit, and get to know “Dr. Jay”. He can’t wait to get to know you – and your best friend!
