activities and once you get involved in
the community you start to find out
how wonderful it is, and how great
the people are, and it kept me here,”
Martinez said, adding that he joined the
Gilroy chapter of Big Brothers and Big
Sisters, and Gilroy Rotary, in addition
to serving on the Board of Directors of
Bonfante Gardens.
Seven years later, in 1988, Martinez
and Dr. Dennis Harrigan became
co-owners of the Gilroy Veterinary
Hospital. Since then the establishment
has remained a staple of professional
care and compassion to pet owners all
throughout the South County area.
Donna Pray, Gilroy resident for 41
years and an avid dog lover, first came
to Gilroy Veterinary Hospital 20 years
ago after hearing great things about the
hospital and Dr. Martinez.
“We made the switch and have been
very happy,” Pray said. “He’s always
been very professional and yet he’s
very friendly, more like an uncle to our
dogs.”
Ron Habit, husband of Addie,
couldn’t agree more.
“He’s a great guy, down to earth…
he’s got a really great personality I
think, not only for the pets, but for the
pet owners,” Ron said.
“We’re just grateful for his practice
and his dedication to the community,”
Addie added.
Martinez realized he had a special
bond with animals at an early age.
“I just felt like I knew how they felt
and I could watch how they reacted to
things,” Martinez said, adding, “They
were like little people instead of just
animals.”
The Martinez household is a busy
one with an ever-changing assortment
of pets including, dogs, cats, and on
occasion, cows and horses. At one
point the couple owned four dogs, but
currently they have only one, Reggie,
a Bichon/Poodle cross, who most
certainly receives an abundant amount
of love and attention from his owners.
“He’s such an endearing dog because
he always wants to be with us,”
Martinez said. “He just loves attention
and goes wherever we go.”
Martinez has always included an
assortment of pets in his family, even as
a child growing up in Napa he never let
city life restrict his collection of animals.
That collection included pigeons and
a duck he named John, who Martinez
hatched from an incubator.
“All my animals have always had
human names, he just looked like
a John to me,” Martinez explained,
adding that John would happily
accompany him on his frequent fishing
trips to the local pond.
“I had a little orange crate and I took
him in my car,” Martinez said. “I put
him out in the water as I fished and
when I was ready to go, I’d walk
towards the car and he would come
back [with me].”
As much as Martinez loves his
chosen profession he admits one of the
most challenging aspects of his career
is when economics becomes a factor in
determining the type of care a sick or
injured animal receives.
“I try to do what I can to help
anybody with their pet within their
budget,” Martinez said.
“But that’s sometimes hard for me
because I want to do what I need to
do to find out what’s wrong, which
means testing. If I had my dream job,
veterinary wise, it would be treating all
animals for whatever they need without
worrying about the money. That’s how
it should be for people and animals.”
Without the proper testing sick
animals won’t receive the care they
need, and unfortunately, the cost of
veterinary care continues to increase.
Martinez explained that last year an
x-ray machine for the hospital cost
$120,000. But he is also quick to add
that a great benefit of the in-house
equipment is a quick turn-around on
test results.
“I feel much more comfortable being
able to give some answers right away,”
Martinez said.
The numerous advancements taking
place in veterinary care have enabled
veterinarians the needed tools to help
them do what they do best; to save
more lives, which is always the ultimate
goal for Martinez.
“With the diagnostic testing, we can
get up in the ninety-something percent
range,” Martinez said. “We save quite a
few more animals because of it.”
Although his work history consists
of experience at only two animal
hospitals, one of which he owns,
Martinez has gained a great deal of
additional veterinary knowledge
through his participation twice a month
in a veterinarian program called Relief
Work, which involves filling in at
animal hospitals and clinics when their
regular practitioners go on leave.
“I like that; it teaches me a lot, going
to another hospital and learning their
style and how they treat things and
how the staff works,” Martinez said. “It’s
wonderful to learn and to grow, and a
lot of times it’s younger veterinarians so
I get to share my perspective and their
new knowledge.”
Of course, the most rewarding
aspect of his job is the ability to provide
animals with the care they need.
“When you have an animal with
severe injuries or medical issues and
then I provide lifesaving care that helps
the owners get their dog or cat back,
and it’s healed. . .the smile on their
faces and the connection they have with
their pet…that’s a wonderful feeling,”
Martinez said.
“That I can deliver a healthy dog or
cat back to their owners, that’s always
most rewarding.”
Gilroy Veterinary Hospital Hours
Monday-Friday, 8:00 am - 5:00 pm, Saturday, 8:00 am–12:00 pm.
Contact Dr. Martinez at 408-842-9348
Or go to: gilroyvet.com.
GILROY • MORGAN HILL • SAN MARTIN
february/march 2019
gmhtoday.com
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