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Dr. Ken Haynes is retiring as a veterinarian from the Dana Park Veterinary Hospital.(Photo: Mike Chapman/Record Searchlight)

Redding veterinarian Ken Haynes sawa variety of patients in his almost half-century-long career.

In addition to cats and dogs, the formerowner ofDana Park Veterinary Hospital treated birds, rabbits, ferrets, chinchillas, snakes, a beaver, bear cubs, mountain lion cubs and a Canadian lynx.

But mostly cats and dogs.

After 44 years in practice 33 of which were in Redding, Haynes, 68, retired from veterinary medicine on Wednesday.

He spent a lot of thattime emotionally supporting thebipeds who brought his patients to hisclinic, too. Pet ownersare very emotionally attached to their pets,"he said. "You help fix the pets, and you help fix the people. You get a two-fer.

Haynes recalled a particular case thatstymied him: TheTarantula from Torrance.I had no idea what to do for a sick tarantula. Im pretty sure I didnt have any tarantula classes in school.

The pet owner told Haynes the spiderwas listless and wasnt eating. Haynestook his word for it, called an entomologist for advice and treated the arachnid.

Otherwise his days at the office werepretty routine, he said.Ive got a few dog bite stories, but theyre better (told) in person. The stories come with hand signals.

Photos courtesy of the Facebook group Carr Fire Pet Rescue and Reunion. Redding Record Searchlight

Haynes sold his practice in December 2018. Since then, he opted to work part time at Dana Park.The workload wasnt much lighter than when he workedfull time,he said. It kind of squeezed five days of work into three days, but it gave me four days to recover.

In June 2019, he and his wifeChris Haynessold their house in Millville. Theymoved up to Dunsmuir with their dog and two cats.

I still love the job, but Im 68 years old, and my wife and I would like to take off and travel, and see what the other side looks like, he said. We just think its time (to retire).

The couple intended to vacation in Europe this summer, but canceled their plans due to risk of exposure during the coronavirus pandemic.

Instead, they will go to Colorado to do some fishing, Ken Haynes said. Well go back to some old places we used to go as a family, when I was a kid. Then Ill come back and get my second knee fixed. And then I dont know what Im going to do.

He will miss his former employees, he said. They made our hospital what it is today.

Haynes believes his patients and their people are in good hands. Were blessed with some very talented and competent veterinarians in this area, he said. Ive really enjoyed the relationship with my colleagues here in Redding.

Haynes said he wants to stay involved in veterinary medicine, eventually working part time again. But right now, Ill just relax and enjoy for a few months.

Ken and Chris Haynes moved from Manhattan Beach to Millville in 1987 with their two kids: Trevor (4) and Meaghan (2.5). Michael, now a third-year veterinary student in Sydney, Australia, was born in Redding in 1989.

While Haynes worked as a vetin Manhattan Beach, Redding was where he first owned his own practice. He bought Hilltop Veterinary Hospital in 1987 from retiring vet Charlie Clinkenbeard.

It wasnt long before hispractice outgrew the facility, he said. We built Dana Park Veterinary Hospital in 2002. We wanted a facility that was modern and designed to be comfortably for the employees and pets.

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When not in the office, Haynes made house calls to North State non-profits.

Up until 2015, he volunteered for Turtle Bay Exploration Park and its previous manifestation, the Carter House Museum.

One of his Turtle Bay patients was the parks rattlesnake, he said. They stay pretty healthythank goodness.

Haynes also treatedTimber the beaver, a park resident since2014. Hesbeen in for sutures twice. I think he gets himself cut on sticks.

Healso volunteered vet services and home care for Shasta Wildlife Rescue and Rehabilitation (SWRR) animals until about 2015. Among his SWRR patients were mountain lion cubs anda Canadian lynx.

The lynxwas found in Castle Crags State Park, wandering around a campground, he said. It was somebodys pet. The canines had been removed. She was declawed.

One patient who went home with Haynes: A12-pound bear cub, brought to a French Gulch residents home by their dog. "(It) couldnt stay at the clinic overnight," Haynes said. "It still needed to be bottle-fed."

More animal stories:

The Haynes' childrenhelped care for his SWRR patients includingorphaned squirrels, raccoons and other animals, Chris Haynes said. He (Ken) brought home a baby rat once. It kind of freaked me out, but the kids loved him. It was a wonderful life for the kids.

When the Carr and Camp firesdestroyed parts of Shasta and Butte counties in 2018, displacingtens of thousands of people and their pets,Haynes and his colleagues opened Dana Park's doors. They took inas manypets as they could, he said, until the facility was "overly-full with animals."

Two yearslater, Haynes hopes people will treat each other with the same compassion they showed each other during the fires. I would just like people to see the good in everyone and be kind, he said. Have grace.

Those who want to send Haynes a well wish can post on https://bit.ly/2Yilmxq, Chris Haynes said.

Jessica Skropanic is features reporter for the Record Searchlight/USA Today Network. She covers lifestyle andentertainment stories, andweekly arts featured.a.t.e. Followher on Twitter @RS_JSkropanicand on Facebook. Join Jessica in theGet Out! Nor Calrecreation Facebook group. To support and sustain this work, please subscribe today. Thank you.

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From cats and dogs to lions and bears, this Redding veterinarian did a lot in 44 years - Record Searchlight

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