Urgent Pet Care, located at 8419 S. 73rd Plaza (one block west of 72nd and Giles), is an emergency veterinary clinic whose mission is to provide caring, compassionate, affordable after-hours care when your family veterinarian is closed. They are operational every evening, weekend and holiday specifically to provide urgent pet care services. Dr. Doris Starks, DVM is the owner and main veterinarian on staff at Urgent Pet Care.
Tell us a little about your business. – Our mission is to provide caring, professional, high quality yet affordable medical services for pets and their pet parents in order to meet their urgent care needs. We provide exceptional customer service for every client, and treat each animal with the same love and dignity as we show our own.
What is the biggest challenge you’ve faced professionally? – Maintaining the highest quality of care for each patient at all times.
What has been your most important achievement professionally? – Reaching my ultimate goal in life; to treat sick and injured animals without worry or bureaucracy. Unfortunately, the corporate demagoguery in this profession today can be extremely overwhelming. Also, really being in tune with the animals and learning how to understand and meet their needs has been very rewarding. I enjoy being able to speak and understand their language!
Tell us a little about your family. – I have been married 22 years to my husband, Donald Starks Jr. Our family includes our daughter Elaine, who is 21 years old and graduated from Omaha Marian High School, our son Mark who is 16 years old and currently goes to Creighton Prep, our cat Tiger, and our two dogs, a yellow lab named Colt and a springer spaniel named Beretta.
What do you see as one of the biggest turning points in your life? – The loss of my grandfather. Experiencing that loss of life stimulated a new life in me.
What is your favorite thing to do on a day off? – Sleep and snuggle with Tiger.
What is the most unique or interesting thing about you that most people probably don’t know? – Even to this day, the struggles of my forefathers weigh heavily within my consciousness.
What are you the most proud of? – The unwavering support of my family throughout many tough battles in life.
What is the best piece of advice you’ve ever received? – Be persistent in all that you do.
If you could choose only one descriptive word to be remembered as, what would it be? – Tactful.
If you had a theme song, what would it be? – “We’re All In This Together” by Ben Lee.
If you could have a super power, what would it be? – The power to heal.
Which talent would you most like to have? – To communicate effectively with all people at all times.
If you could choose any other profession to be successful in, what would it be? – Medical research, especially cancer research.
What is your favorite book or the last good book you read? – The last book I read was Heart of Texas by Debbie Macomber.
What is your favorite movie? – The Wizard of Oz.
What is your favorite TV show? – Perry Mason, the old detective show.
What is your favorite local restaurant? – Charleston’s.
If you could have dinner with one famous person from the past or the present, who would it be? – Oprah Winfrey.
If our readers would like to contact you, how should they do so? – Visit our website at urgentpetcareomaha.com or our Facebook page at www.facebook.com/urgentpetcare, or I can be reached by calling the clinic at (402) 597-2911.