By Sarah Mandile
Local pet owners have something exciting to look forward to next time they bring their furry friends to Keys Animal Hospital. Recently, the staff has grown with the addition of Shavonne Corbet, a veterinarian who hails most recently from Portland, Oregon.
Since graduating from the University of Georgia in 2007, Corbet has had experience with poultry, wildlife, zoo animals and, of course, house pets. Having grown up with a large variety of pets, she has been surrounded by animals from a very young age, and this fueled her love for them. “I have wanted to be a vet ever since I can remember,” she says.
A few weeks ago, while sitting at a table in the Island Fish Co., Corbet said she experienced a strong sense of déjà vu. The moment seemed too familiar because, 20 years prior, she had been to the same restaurant and sat at the same table while on a vacation to the Keys.
After growing up in the South, then moving to Oregon and adventuring through Yellowstone and Graceland in an RV with one dog and four cats, Corbet has found herself back in Florida and said she couldn’t be happier. She said she’s excited by the conservation opportunities in the Keys and looks forward to caring for local wildlife. “Sea turtles have always been close to my heart,” she said. In fact, during her school years she even studied sea turtles in Puerto Rico. She said she hopes to have the occasional opportunity to partner with the Turtle Hospital as well as the Dolphin Research Center.
Stay tuned for potential treatment additions to Keys Animal Hospital because Corbet plans on continuing her schooling and is interested in potentially bringing traditional Chinese medicine to Marathon … for pets.
“I’ve been interested in alternative forms of medicine for a while now,” said Corbet. “These techniques have been shown to help with kidney and liver issues, and cardiovascular and immune health in animals.”
She said she intends to attend the Chi Institute of Traditional Chinese Veterinary Medicine in Central Florida and learning more about massage techniques and tui-na acupuncture for animal health.
