84 | SIGNATURE MONTANA
THE
BIG HEARTS
BEHIND
BEST
FRIENDS
ANIMAL
HOSPITAL
It's a natural part of being a pet parent:
going to the vet. Seeing your best friend
taken away in another person's arms
pulls at the tightest of heartstrings.
But what if you knew the name of each
person behind those doors? What if the
doctor has known your dog since he
was a puppy? At Best Friends Animal
Hospital, their genuine care, concern,
and focus on relationships continuously
win over the hearts of their clientele.
Nancy has brought in her Chesapeake, Ben. She shares, "Dr.
Norton is very knowledgeable, and he's a wonderful surgeon. We've
been coming to him with our dogs probably over twenty years now."
Nancy's story is a familiar one. Since starting his practice in Great
Falls in 1999, Dr. Mike Norton and his "family" (as he refers to his
staff ) have developed hundreds of relationships with pet parents
just like Nancy.
TEXT BY HEATHER BODE
PHOTOGRAPHY BY SARA YOUNG
Ferret feeling funny? Exotic animals make up about 3-5% of
Best Friends Animal Hospital patients.
Large dogs have designated routine exam rooms. Tables have
been removed to calm the dogs; vet techs and doctors can get
on the floor to perform exams.
