Our Team of Vet Professionals in West Branch, MI
At Compassionate Veterinary Care, our veterinarians and staff are committed to improving the relationship you share with your pet with anxiety-free care. We see ourselves as one big family that puts your pet’s health and needs first, and we can’t wait to welcome you into that family!
Learn about our amazing vets and staff below and schedule your next visit today.
Meet Our Doctor
Charlotte Lucas, DVM Veterinarian
Dr. Lucas graduated from Michigan State University College of Veterinary Medicine in 2011. She moved back to her hometown of West Branch with her husband Josh to begin her career as a veterinarian. Working as a veterinarian and owning her own practice was a dream she had since childhood. Prior to attending veterinary school, Dr. Lucas studied abroad in Ireland and then worked on a Thoroughbred breeding farm and a large equine hospital, Hagyard Equine Medical Institute, in Lexington, KY. Working with Thoroughbred foals taught her the importance of being able to recognize and understand when an animal is not normal- which is a skill she continues to utilize daily. Dr. Lucas feels that she worked alongside the best veterinarians and medical teams at Hagyard, and it helped solidify the goal of becoming a veterinarian. After veterinary school, Dr. Lucas had the opportunity to come “home” and begin her career. It didn’t take long to begin realizing that the dream of practice ownership was on the horizon and Compassionate Veterinary Care began to be formed.
Owning and operating her own practice meant that Dr. Lucas could put into motion some of the values that she believed were essential to workplace happiness and balance. She also knew that this meant that she could facilitate a low stress approach to visits for both clients and their furry family members. Building a fantastic team has been a huge part of CVC’s success. She says, “Our team is the best- everyone believes in treating all of our patients as they would want their pets to be treated. I laugh every day, even on the hardest days- there is always a pet or a person that will lift my spirits.” As a team, we are focused on slowing down and listening to our clients, and taking the time to really observe our patients.
Compassionate Veterinary Care strives to find connections with clients and their pets. Dr. Lucas is most fulfilled when she’s able to help senior and geriatric pets so they are able to live more comfortably during the last phase of their life. At CVC we appreciate the trust people have in us when working with their pets at all stages of life. When we are meeting new puppies and kittens we try to establish healthy habits as early as possible to help prevent future problems.
Dr. Lucas’ favorite CVC Core Value is: Compassion, naturally. “I’m afraid of how people seem to lack empathy with others. We lack Compassion as a society. I believe I can help by actively listening so I can understand how to best help a nervous pet parent, in addition to being a doctor for the animal. At home, we try to teach our children that what makes people (and animals) different is what makes us beautiful and great- and that the better we understand, the more of a positive impact we can make.”
Dr. Lucas loves living in Michigan and taking advantage of all it has to offer! You will often find her and her husband Josh, on the Banks of the Red Cedar proudly wearing Green and White during football season, enjoying the sun and sand on a lakeshore somewhere, or bundled up playing in the snow. Their three daughters, Marlee, Lila and Annie keep them on their toes and are a daily reminder that life moves too fast not to enjoy every moment. Their fur family members include their Christmas puppy Jack and their cat Gus, who is king of everything.
