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Veterinarian Troy Jones, head of the newly opened Luverne Veterinary Hospital, has spent nearly his entire life around animals.

Jones grew up on a farm in Pintlala, caring for pigs and cattle and inheriting early on an appreciation for animals.

It was the birth of a lifelong interest and education in the veterinary practice for him.

Jones found a mentor in Dr. Robin Embry, at the time a Montgomery-based veterinarian, and attended the Auburn University College of Veterinary Medicine, graduating in 1998.

He went to work at the Jones Veterinary Hospital in 2001.

Now a veteran practitioner himself, Jones says the diversity of challenges that a veterinarian can face on any given day helps keep the job interesting.

“I enjoy the challenge of it; it’s something different every day. You get to meet new people, new pets, and you get to figure out different medical cases. When you do what I do- large and small animals- it’s just always something different. You don’t tend to get into a rut,” he explained.

For many farmers, their livestock can be just as valuable and even beloved as a family’s pet dog, and require similar amounts of care and personal consideration.

“Plenty of people view their cattle or horses just like a household pet. Then there are bigger operations where it’s more of a financial concern, so it’s different for every farm you go too. And it has changed a lot in the years since I’ve been out of school,” Jones said.

Practicing through the years in Andalusia, Jones found himself more and more traveling to Crenshaw County to tend to an ever-growing list of local clients particularly for large animals.

“I knew Dr. Williams and used to stop by and see him when he was still practicing. He and I talked years ago about buying his practice, and of course he then got sick and passed away. It just got to the point where it made sense to open a practice back up here, so I bought the old building and really hope to continue his legacy here. His practice was opened in 1952, and I think it’s great to continue what he and Dr. Till started all those years ago right here in the same location,” Jones explained.

The Luverne Veterinary Hospital will offer full small animal services, including surgery, dentistry, and even boarding and grooming.

Large animal services are mostly limited to farm calls at the moment, although Jones hopes to renovate the small barn behind the practice eventually for “haul-in” care for large animals.

The practice will be open Monday, Tuesday, Thursday and Friday, and from 8 a.m. to 12 p.m. on Wednesdays without a veterinarian on-site.

Beginning in October, they will also open the first Saturday of every month from 8 a.m. to 12 p.m.

“I’m really excited to be here,” Jones said.

“I enjoy the people, like the town, and I’m just really excited to see what we can do here in Luverne.”