About Us

Creede Animal Clinic is a full-service small animal clinic serving the Creede, South Fork and Lake City areas in the mountains of southwestern Colorado. We love the mountains and mountain people, whether they are full time year-round residents or just here for a few days or anything in between.  We believe that they deserve to have the best health care possible for their animals, and we strive to provide that kind of care.
The clinic was started in 1992 when Dr. John Howard "Doc" built the clinic building and began coming to Creede from his Red Rock Animal Hospital in Gallup, NM one day a week. He continued to operate the Creede Animal Clinic one day a week until 1998 when he and his wife, Sandy sold the Red Rock Animal Hospital and moved full time to Creede.
Doc Howard has almost 60 years of experience in veterinary medicine, having graduated from the College of Veterinary Medicine at Colorado State University in 1964. He has deep roots in Creede. He and his sister, Judy Shue own and operate the Continental Ranch  founded by their grandfather, John G. Dabney  100 years ago.​ 
​Doc Adam (Dr. Adam Lusk) joined the Creede Animal Clinic in July of 2024. He brought with him some exciting new equipment and a knowledge of equine medicine gained by working in a large equine clinic in Florida for 15 years after graduating from veterinary school at Kansas State University.  He spent a lot of time in the Creede area with his grandfather, Truman Lusk,  who owned the Spring Creek Ranch west of Creede. He and his wife Lynn have six children and are a welcome addition to our community. 
Ashley Twite serves as Office Manager and as a veterinary assistant for the Creede Animal Clinic. She has worked at the clinic for 17 years. She stays busy outside clinic hours with her six children and helping her husband, Craig with their metal shop, Eminent Creations & Repair. Because of those six children, she is very involved in all things having to do with Creede Schools. Ashley is also Doc's granddaughter.
Linda Drain is our main receptionist and a veterinary  assistant. Linda considers herself to be a client advocate and she takes pride in making things right for all our clients. After hours and on the week-ends you can find her working with her husband, Lynn, with their burro rescue activities, pack burro racing and long distance running.
Trenea Carpenter is Ashley's daughter, making her Doc's great-granddaughter. She is away at college right now, training to be a nurse and has worked  doing just about any job there is to do in the clinic. She excels in client service and in the in-house laboratory. She works in the clinic during breaks from college and during the summer. 

                                                                                                  WHAT SOME OF OUR CLIENTS SAY ABOUT US 
​  "Always enjoy seeing Doc Howard, even though it means one our fur babies isn't doing well. We consider your practice 'the ideal veterinary setup' and truly appreciate you're being here when we need you."

"Excellent service and doc and staff are super friendly"

"We so appreciate Dr. Howard and his staff. Thank you for getting us in and treating ------ so promptly. Nor other place like Creede  Animal Clinic"   Is always a 10 rating"

Doc Howard and everyone at the Creede Animal Clinic are fabulous."