For the last 45 years, Dr. B Lee Youngblood has been seeing and treating the pets of Selma and Dallas County. But after nearly a half century, Youngblood has decided to step away from his practice, Northside Animal Hospital, to spend more time with family and out in nature.

“It’s not just one thing that’s been rewarding to me, it’s a whole deal, the friendships, the pets that I’ve seen over the years, the lives that I’ve saved,” Youngblood said. “Every time I go out somewhere, somebody’s always telling me about their pet, how it’s doing. Some of my clients have become life long friends.”

Youngblood went to vet school at Auburn University where he received his degree.

When he first started at the hospital, it was tailored for larger animals. But as he got his foot in the door and began working to improve the practice, he started pulling in more smaller animals and pets to get it where it is today.

“Over the process of my career, we’ve gone from a very bare bones types of practice to a state of the art veterinary practice,” Youngblood said. “When I came here to start practice, we didn’t have an x-ray machine, we didn’t have any type of laboratory machine … we had to send most everything off so it would take days to get most stuff back and to make a diagnoses.”

Youngblood said during his time working with people’s pets, he developed many friendships, with his clients and their furry pets.

“There’s many instances where you do something for an animal that turns out good, and the people are so appreciative of what you do that you make life long friends that way,” Youngblood said.

“I’ve often said that a veterinarian is a little bit different, a veterinarian actually works with the owners that owns this pet and loves this pet. When you bring an animal in, I’m working for you to make sure your animal gets the best care possible and does real well.”

Youngblood said he is passionate about the outdoors, and has enjoyed working somewhere that allows him the opportunity to spend time in what he called “the country” and even have his grandchildren out there with him.

“It’s meant a lot of different things. It’s meant that I was able to love in a community that I like and that I could enjoy the outdoors,” Youngblood said. “It’s also meant that I made a living and was able to raise a family.”

A reception for Dr. Youngblood will be held at Northside Animal Hospital Thursday, Dec. 17 from 2-4 p.m. where his clients are welcome to attend.