Is Dr. Jeff, The Rocky Mountain Vet, Gone?

  By Timothy D. Naegele[1]

In stressful times like these, Americans can agree on one thing: most love their pets.  Some might say it’s an obsession.  Often they treat their pets better than humans, and pamper them beyond belief.  Many would give their last cent to save their sick or injured animal; and often they don’t know where to turn.  Caring, competent veterinarians who can help them may be difficult to find, especially at a cost they can afford.

Enter Dr. Jeff Young, the Rocky Mountain vet, and his staff of vets and technicians based in Colorado.  Having a reported 100,000 clients, people and their beloved animals have flocked to Denver, even from other states.  And Dr. Jeff set up an affiliated clinic in Mexico, to address the needs of that country for veterinary services that people can afford.[2]

With his wife Petra who is also a vet, their thoughtful attention to human needs—and the intricacy of their operations on a variety of animals—have resulted in several years of fascinating TV shows on the Animal Planet channel.  Indeed, I have sometimes thought that if a family animal had a pressing need, a trip to Denver might be worthwhile.[3]

Having grown up in Hollywood, and having worked in our nation’s capital at the Pentagon and in the U.S. Senate, I don’t consider myself naive. Thus, on further investigation—and as a matter of curiosity—I found that the custom-designed building that has housed the clinic seems to be for sale or lease[4]; its vets and staff have scattered far and wide[5]; and most of the viewing public has no idea that this has happened.

Granted, Jeff had cancer, which reportedly is in remission.  And apparently he and Petra bought a cabin in the Colorado mountains near the town of Leadville, where they opened a small satellite clinic.[6]  But their viewing public—and loyal fans—have no earthly idea that all of this has happened.  It’s as though the episodes have been fraudulent, and merely a Hollywood facade.

Anyone who has visited a movie studio in Southern California knows what “hocus-pocus” really is.  False fronts greet you, making everything appear real, until you see that there’s nothing behind them.[7]  Sadly, Dr. Jeff’s clinic in Denver may be just that; or it may happen soon.  Where will all the animals and their devoted owners go?

Many of us have been inspired by the care given to the veterinary practice’s animals, as set forth in each episode.  And some, including young people, may have been inspired to become vets or technicians.  And many or most of the animals seem to have been treated successfully and have brought joy to their owners and to the TV show’s viewers.  Hence, it was all worthwhile.

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© 2023, Timothy D. Naegele

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[1]  Timothy D. Naegele was counsel to the United States Senate’s Committee on Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs, and chief of staff to Presidential Medal of Freedom and Congressional Gold Medal recipient and former U.S. Senator Edward W. Brooke (R-Mass).  See, e.g., Timothy D. Naegele Resume-21-8-6  and https://naegeleknol.wordpress.com/accomplishments/   He has an undergraduate degree in economics from the University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA), as well as two law degrees from the School of Law (Boalt Hall), University of California, Berkeley, and from Georgetown University.  He served as a Captain in the U.S. Army during the Vietnam War, assigned to the Defense Intelligence Agency at the Pentagon, where he received the Joint Service Commendation Medal (see, e.g., https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Commendation_Medal#Joint_Service).  Mr. Naegele is an Independent politically; and he is listed in Who’s Who in America, Who’s Who in American Law, and Who’s Who in Finance and Business. He has written extensively over the years (see, e.g., https://naegeleblog.wordpress.com/articles/ and https://naegeleknol.wordpress.com/articles/), and studied photography with Ansel Adams.  He can be contacted directly at tdnaegele.associates@gmail.com

[2]  See, e.g., https://www.animalplanet.com/show/dr-jeff-rocky-mountain-vet-animal-planet (“Dr. Jeff: Rocky Mountain Vet – Animal Planet GO”) and https://m.facebook.com/204381036611103/ and https://www.plannedpethoodinternational.org/ (“Planned Pethood International – Veterinarian in Wheat Ridge, CO”) and https://www.veterinarians.org/planned-pethood/ (“Planned Pethood: A Guide to the Famous Rocky Mountain Vet – Veterinarians.org”)

[3]  Dr. Jeff and his clinic’s practices have not been without their critics.

See, e.g., https://vetshows.com/dr-jeff-young-vets/ and https://thenewspocket.com/dr-jeff-rocky-mountain-vet-controversy/ (“Dr Jeff Rocky Mountain Vet Controversy: Latest Updates in 2022”)

[4]  See, e.g., https://www.loopnet.com/Listing/4595-Harlan-St-Wheat-Ridge-CO/25058243/

[5]  See, e.g., https://animalclinicofwoodlandpark.com/who-we-are/ (“Dr. Jeff Baier – The Animal Clinic of Woodland Park”) and https://ridgwayanimalhospital.com/our-team/ (“Rachel Nichols, Ridgway Animal Hospital”) and https://vetshows.com/hector-on-dr-jeff-rocky-mountain-vet/ (“What happened to Hector Martinez on Dr. Jeff rocky mountain vet?”)

[6]  See https://plannedpethoodleadville.org/ (“Planned Pethood Leadville”); see also https://www.zillow.com/homedetails/601-Chestnut-St-Leadville-CO-80461/89846248_zpid/

[7]  See, e.g., https://www.backtothemovies.com/best-studio-tours-in-hollywood/ (“We Explore and Rank the Best Studio Tours in Hollywood”)