Dr. Kathleen Deckard
Executive Director of Medicine
Dr. Kathleen Deckard resides with her family in Saint Augustine Florida. She is a veteran of the industry having been active in practice for over 26 years. She and her husband began Pets R Family Veterinary Hospital 11 years ago, with the support of her two children, Gavin age 19 and Abigail age 21. Both of her children are attending college and working in the family practice.
Dr. Deckard received her Doctorate in Veterinary Medicine in 1999 from the University of Florida then immediately joined a large veterinary practice in Saint Augustine where she remained for 16 years. In 2014, she began her dream of building Pets R Family Veterinary Hospital to service the community in which she lives and provide top quality, compassionate care for the pets in the St. Johns area. Her practice has grown to 7 DVM’s, 55 employees and saw over 38,000 pets through their front doors last year. The practice is in the early stages of their 5th remodel, as they evolve with the needs of the clientel and community. The new design will incorporate additional exam rooms, bringing them to 12 in total, an enlarged hospital treatment area, as well as a Feline only area, aptly named the Whisker Wing.
Dr. Deckard enjoys challenging medicine cases and has a special interest in Dermatology. Her years in practice have enabled her to become proficient at soft tissue surgery including cystotomy, intestinal surgery, splenectomy, and tumor removal. She also has advanced training in abdominal ultrasound. She is a huge proponent for keeping the cases in house when at all possible, before referral is activated, giving not only the clients a great opportunity for savings and comfort, but also to enable her DVM’s to grow in their abilities to practice their craft.
When she is not caring for her patients, clients and employees, she enjoys spending family time with her husband and her two children. They are an outdoors family with a love of salt water fishing, ziplining, and adventure. Their extended family includes their five dogs, Captain, Sullivan, Fergie, Isabelle and Sugar.