Dr. Tom Ellenburg and Westside Veterinary Hospital Receive 2008
Circle Of Business Excellence Award

Dr. Tom Ellenburg (R) receives the 2008 Circle of Business Excellence Award  from  Arab Chamber President Deneille Dunn                    Photo by Dwight Hayes

March 27, 2008
Dr. Tom Ellenburg owner of the Westside Veterinary Hospital, was honored with the 2008 Circle of Business Excellence Award during the annual Arab Chamber of Commerce Award Celebration Thursday night.  Ellenburg was nominated for the award by Larry and Suzanne Wright owners of Wright's Furniture.

Arab Chamber of Commerce President Deneille Dunn shared the history behind Ellenburg's journey to become a veterinarian and to opening his practice in Arab in December 1980.  Ellenburg and his staff at the Westside Clinic were hailed for the love and care that the provide to all of their patients.  Ellenburg said that Arab is the best place to live and raise a family, "I have never been to a place where I didn't want to come home to Arab."

Ellenburg praised the contributions of his staff.  He said he was especially thankful for his wife Jane Waldrop Ellenburg and his children.  Ellenburg said the gift of his daughter and son was the greatest earthly blessing that God has given to him.  Quoting the Apostle Paul, Ellenburg said, "In him I live and move and have by being.  All gifts are from the Lord of Glory. 

This evening we are here to honor the Chamber’s winner of the Circle of Excellence Business Award for 2008. Tonight’s winner was nominated by another long-time business here in Arab, Larry & Susanne Wright of Wright’s Furniture, which says a lot about our recipient. This individual is well known in our community and is no stranger to hard work and dedication to his clients.

Our honoree is a native of Arab area and has strived for many years to make a difference in his community. After finishing Fairview High School he attended Jacksonville State and received a degree in Biology. He than begin his first career as a teacher at Arab High School in 1972, well he quickly realized that teaching was not for him….he told the principal of the high school, Don Richards that he was afraid he would wind up in the penitentiary if he taught school one more year!

Dr. Tom Ellenburg is applauded by audience as he makes his way to stage to receive Circle of Business Excellence award.                       Photo by Dwight Haye

At that point he decided to follow his heart and applied to Auburn University’s Veterinary program and was accepted. During his time at Auburn he completed a preceptorship in VA, and graduated at the top of his class in May 1978. After graduation he was accepted for a year and half internship specializing in equine surgery at the University of California at Davis.

At the completion of his internship he returned home to Arab to establish his business. He along with his father designed and built the facilities main office, which also had an apartment upstairs where he lived, prior to his marriage. He opened his doors for business in December of 1980 with only two other employees, which were a secretary and a technician. Because of his great care of his clients the business has now grown to employee 5 other Vets, 6 Kennel workers; 5 Technicians; 3 secretaries and several part-time employees bringing the total number of employees to well over 20 and has since built several other building to house and accommodate his clients.

They have many interesting clients including rabbits, guinea pigs, an alpaca and recently a camel named Clyde, a capuchin monkey named Sissy and a black bear cub. They have also worked on several birds of prey and deer that people have brought in over the years found along side the road or caught in a fence. Of course there are the usual clients such as dogs, cats, cows and our recipient’s favorite horses. To give you some idea of how busy they are, they annually give 5,500 rabies shots to their dog and cat clients alone. Many of us here tonight trust this person and his business with those four legged loved ones that mean more to us than we are willing to admit.

Susanne Wright relayed this story in her nomination: On a busy day, I had a long wait which presented me the opportunity to people watch. The room and waiting area were filled with multi-generational patrons and their pets in an out of cages. A five year old child was squealing at all the pets while squeezing her puppy. She ran from person to person inquiring about anything flitting through her thoughts. Mom did nothing to rein in her activity within the small room and loudly pronounced her daughters actions as cute. An elderly lady softly talked with the little girl about pets and gently coaxed her into sitting at her feet to hear a story about her pet. Such is the atmosphere at this business; it is a microcosm where life and pet stories are shared.

Here is an example of the love and concern this business shows to it many patients, as told by the owner of “Buddy”.

– Born in an ordinary litter of puppies Buddy was destined to be anything but ordinary. His owners picked him out and took him home expecting many years of love and devotion from Buddy. There was an instant bond formed between Buddy and his owners, he loved them and it showed and they considered him one of the family. Life was good until one day Buddy didn’t seem himself and was taken to the doctor to see what might be wrong. At the clinic everyone loved Buddy and even at his sickest point he was never afraid to visit his doctor or clinic because he knew they all loved him. When the time had come for radiation treatment, Buddy had to be taken to Birmingham, however when it was determined that nothing else could be done for him, his owners sadly carried him back home - back to the clinic where the people and doctors knew Buddy by name and loved him. Buddy was a special dog cared for at a special place by special people who gave him tender loving care. Where all animals in this clinic can and do receive this same kind of special care.

By this time, most of you know of the person and business that I have been speaking about, he personally gives of his time, is a friend, husband, father, honest and believes in treating everyone fairly.

Tonight we are happy to honor or 2008 Circle of Business Excellence winner, Dr. Tom Ellenburg and Westside Veterinary Hospital!