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Howdy!
I’m Pamela Lee Barlow, DVM --- but everyone here calls me Dr. Pam. I was raised in El Paso, Texas, and had animals of nearly every kind while I was growing up. I showed rabbits in 4-H; bottle raised baby calves; kept the usual dogs, cats, guinea pigs, birds and fish; and caught lizards and snakes in the desert. Veterinary Medicine is my "calling", and I never dreamed of doing anything else with my life.
I graduated from Texas A&M University Veterinary School in 1979. I moved into the Bowie area in 1983. I purchased an old fixer-upper building on Mill Street, and opened Bowie Pet Clinic in 1984. Things have changed a lot since then, and we moved into the new Bowie Pet Clinic facility on Smythe in February 2007.
Because I accepted an Army Scholarship to be able to afford my education, I entered the Army after graduation and served on active duty for three years at Fort Sill (Lawton), Oklahoma. After leaving active duty in 1982, I decided to stay in the active Army Reserve as a Citizen Soldier. A couple of days a month and at least two weeks each year, I was called to active duty. I am thankful for the kind understanding of my clients through the years when my duty to our country took me away from the clinic from time to time.
I was recruited by the Humane Society of Wichita County in 1987, and spent 18 years as their Shelter Veterinarian. Through the years, I worked at the Animal Shelter one or two days a week, accomplishing more than 35,000 spay/neuter surgical procedures, and preventing these dogs and cats from adding untold thousands of unwanted puppies and kittens to the pet overpopulation problem. My volunteer efforts included examination and treatment of Shelter animals with a wide range of problems, medical management of Rabies Quarantine animals housed at the Shelter, and professional testimony in animal cruelty cases. During my final year, I served on the Shelter Board of Directors, ending in December 2006.
In June of 2007, I completed a 31 year military career to become LTC (Ret) Pamela Lee Barlow, DVM. I served in the Active Army at Fort Sill (OK), and in the US Army Reserve while assigned to Fort Sill (OK), Fort Sam Houston (San Antonio), and Fort Hood (Killeen). My responsibilities over the years included duty at Tinker AFB, Altus AFB, Vance AFB, Sheppard AFB, Fort Chaffee (AR), Fort Polk (LA), Carswell, and other military facilities and associated enterprises throughout Texas, Oklahoma, Louisiana, and Arkansas.
I was awarded the Meritorious Service Medal at my retirement ceremony for "Meritorious Service in various positions of great responsibility, culminating as the Drilling Individual Mobilization Augmentee [DIMA] of South Plains District Veterinary Command." LTC Otis L. Stanley, Deputy Commander for Veterinary Services at Fort Sill, OK, said: "She is comfortable and competent in the full range of veterinary service functions. From sanitary inspections of food establishments, to difficult diagnostic or surgical procedures, to higher level administrative decision making, LTC Barlow performs well; a truly versatile officer." COL William E. Gonzalez, Reynolds Army Community Hospital Commander, said: "I can truly say that she has been one of the most outstanding IMA officers that we have had here since my assumption of command. She epitomizes the true essence of what an outstanding reserve officer can be."
Finally, everyone asks about my own personal animals, so here is my 2008 "personal beastie" list: 4 elegant Whippets, a half-dozen assorted barn cats (aka "mousetraps"), a variety of Button quail, 8 aquariums full of Tropical fish, 4 beautiful Corn snakes, an outdoor pond full of goldfish, a few Boer-cross goats, about 20 head of Beefmaster & Black Angus cows plus calves, 20+ Thoroughbred horses, 2 Appaloosas, 7 Mini horses, and a llama. I love 'em all!
Plus, I also have 2 Greyhounds for Bowie Pet Clinic. The Greyhounds are Blood Donors for our patients that need blood transfusions, and many of our patients owe their lives to these blood donors. Most people don't realize that Greyhounds are really wonderful dogs, and make loving pets. All of our Greyhounds were adopted from Animal Shelters or Greyhound Rescue. I personally recommend that everyone consider adopting from a Shelter or Rescue group whenever they are looking for a new addition to the family, and give a second chance home to a loving and deserving unwanted pet.