Name: Dr. John Hurst

Position: Veterinarian

Name any pets with their age/breed/etc. that you have at home.

Until recently, it was just Bubba, my seven-year-old, eighty-pound pittie-mastiff, and I. But recently, we began fostering an injured puppy at home, and it has been a delight to see her recovery in progress. As she has steadily regained her coordination and dexterity, she and Bubba have forged an adorable friendship. To see them bound after one another and to see the patience he has for her has been a treasure.

How long have you been working at ARL?

I joined the ARL in December of 2022 after two years working for the U.S. Department of Agriculture. Everything I missed while working for the USDA, I’ve found at the ARL – Each day, I am diagnosing, triaging, preventing, and treating illness in animals; I’m discovering new abilities in surgery which I never imagined myself capable of; and I’m sharing achievements with a team of the most dedicated and passionate coworkers.

How does your department serve the animals at ARL and animals in our community?

Through collaboration across departments at the shelter, my department is able to diagnose and medically treat animals in our shelter as well as perform spay and neuter surgeries for publicly-owned animals. Our Animal Care team closely monitors and cares for the health and wellbeing of our shelter animals, our Foster Department coordinates placement of animals with special medical needs, our Department of Animal Protection works closely with us to save lives of stray and injured animals. – There isn’t a single department we aren’t collaborating with every single day to give our pets the best outcomes, and I am very grateful for these opportunities to perform such meaningful work for the animals and people of Berks County!

What might a typical workday look like for you?

My mornings are spent in the Medical Center, where we perform surgery for both publicly-owned and shelter animals. We primarily perform spay and neuter surgeries, but we sometimes also perform eye enucleations and limb amputations following injuries, emergency foreign body surgeries, dental extractions, mass removals, and the occasional other oddities. In the afternoon, I manage our ongoing medical cases with the assistance of our Medical Technicians and animal handlers.

What is one thing you wish people knew about your job?

I wish for people to know how essential the entire community is to our lifesaving efforts. Though my department is responsible for diagnosing and treating animals, and the entire team at ARL works so hard to care for these animals each day, they are not entirely saved until they find love in the comfort of your families and homes. We really cannot do any of this without your continued support, and every bit of it is hugely appreciated.

If you could cross one thing off your bucket list right now, what would it be?  

Right now? Skydiving! If I survive that, then I want to finish a marathon, learn a language, sail in the Caribbean, hike the Appalachian Trail, see the Northern Lights, author something, dance at a masquerade ball, and drink coffee in Indonesia, a cappuccino in Italy, whiskey in Scotland, and wine in France.

Is there anything else you would like to share with your community?

A quote from Theodore Roosevelt: “The chief pleasure really worth having of anyone is the doing well of some work which ought to be done.” I am so grateful for everyone at the ARL and of our community who allow me the opportunity, every day, to perform such fulfilling and meaningful work in service to so many deserving animals and people.

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Did you enjoy this article? Check out our other employee spotlight interviews in the blog!