They came from Clinton: Deanna Witte – DVM

By Audrey Buchanan

Clinton School District

This is the sixth in a series of stories about Clinton schools alumni and where they are today.

CLINTON – Dr. Deanna (Kuhlow) Witte is a 1989 graduate of Clinton High School. She graduated from UW-Madison School of Veterinary Medicine in 1996.

She completed her doctorate degree in seven years instead of the traditional eight years because she was accepted into veterinary school one year early due to her outstanding academic performance.

She currently owns and operates Witte’s Natural Veterinary Care, Ltd. in Sharon, Wis.

Witte had wanted to become a veterinarian for as long as she can remember, explaining, “I have always loved animals.”

She grew up on her family farm in Bradford Township, raising pigs and beef cattle with her parents, grandparents, and siblings. She showed pigs and beef cattle in 4H and FFA.

Witte’s first job as a veterinarian was working at the Green Bay Road Animal Emergency Clinic, in Racine, Wisconsin.

She also worked for Janesville Animal Emergency Clinic in Janesville, and the Prairie Animal Hospital in Beloit. In May 2003 she began working at the Clinton Veterinary Clinic.

She stayed until November 2010, and then did house calls. In May 2011 she opened her current clinic. She chose Sharon as the location for her clinic because there was a need, since there was no veterinarian in town.

She was able to secure a building from Deb Flagel-Heilizer, cementing the choice of location.

Witte’s Natural Veterinary Care is a family operation. Her sons, Dylan (age 17), Dalton (age 15), and Devin (age 13) help with animal care, inventory, cleaning, and other jobs around the clinic when they have time.

She has one employee, Shelly Howard, who works as her assistant. It is a full-service clinic, specializing in spinal manipulation and integrative medicine. She sees small animals, but also provides spinal manipulation for large animals.

Witte was inspired to open her own clinic because she wanted to be able to offer alternative care and was not able to do so in other clinics. She also enjoys the independence of being her own boss. Her husband, Ron, was 100% supportive.

He was working for EcoLab in South Beloit at the time, and the boys were only 13, 11, and 9 years old, so the family was very busy.

However, they were dedicated to the success of the clinic, and despite all their other commitments to work, school, and extra-curricular activities, they were able to successfully start and operate the new business.

In the beginning, she had no employees, and ran the entire business by herself. Witte occasionally called upon Christa Lecesse and Heidi Murtha, two technicians she had previously worked with, to help with surgeries as needed.

Looking back on that time in her life, Witte explained, “I was nervous, excited, and unsure about everything. I kept two part-time jobs in the beginning as back-up, just in case.”

Witte’s worries were unfounded. Within a year she quit the two part-time jobs and opened her clinic full-time because of client demands.

Witte added, “It was hectic and stressful, but exciting at the same time. I’m my own boss and can, for the most part, make my own schedule. I am able to take time off when needed to attend my sons’ school activities and take family vacations.”

Reflecting and looking to the future Witte commented, “Even though it was a bit scary in the beginning, I soon found that my client base grew to where I was able to sustain my business.

“I appreciate my clients for their support and want to continue to provide the best care possible for their fur kids. I wouldn’t have it any other way.”

Witte’s husband is looking forward to reaching the 10-year mark. That is a significant milestone in his opinion. Witte’s oldest son, Dylan, is planning to attend veterinary school so he can join his mother in her practice.

A second option would be to pursue a career as a marine biologist, but for now, veterinary medicine is the top choice.

Dylan will graduate from Clinton High School in 2017, and is deciding which Wisconsin university to attend before going to veterinary school in Madison.

Witte’s Natural Veterinary Care is open from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Monday, Tuesday, Thursday, and Friday, and from 9 to 11 a.m. on Wednesday. Clients can be seen evenings and weekends by appointment.

Courtesy photo

Deanna (Kuhlow) Witte, DVM, (center) in her clinic with her family, (counter-clockwise from upper left) husband Ron, and sons, Dylan, Dalton, and Devin.