Meet Robert Hutchison

We had the good fortune of connecting with Robert Hutchison and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Robert, what role has risk played in your life or career?
Veterinary medicine was just starting to be noticed by private equity groups prior to 2019. However, the global pandemic opened the floodgates for corporate interest in our field as they watched countless quarantined families invest heavily in their pets. As a small, local and independent veterinary practice, we’ve had to brace ourselves to scrap with corporate interests who, despite having less to offer our community, come to the fight with far greater resources than could ever be possible for us.

When White Whiskers was just beginning, we had a corporate group come after us. They were upset that they couldn’t buy us, as doctors, with the practice that they were purchasing. It’s a daunting thing going toe to toe with corporate players who would prefer to bully its competition out of the market than to work collectively to improve the health outcomes of the patients we should all be helping. Luckily, we believe strongly in our mission and in how we accomplish it. That belief gives us the fuel we need everyday to go up against bigger and more ruthless competitors.

Lots of people have great ideas about ways to make the world a better place. It takes a risk and a certain amount of audacity to believe that it should be you who brings those ideas to fruition. I’ve never regretted taking that leap of faith and thumbing my nose at the people who would otherwise exploit my community. Risk is unavoidable in life, but belief in a cause greater than yourself makes that risk much more palatable.

Alright, so let’s move onto what keeps you busy professionally?
As a practice focused on senior dogs and cats, we spend a great deal of time at White Whiskers shepherding our clients through some of the most emotionally wrought chapters of their relationship with their pet. In those moments, it’s not enough to simply love animals. You have to love people and their stories as well.

I’m proud of my circuitous career. I graduated from veterinary school in my 30’s after initially devoting my studies and my career to the study of human culture and behavior. After a period of time working as an archeological field technician, I found myself working within a documentary film and television studio where I would spend the next 6 years engaging with amazing people, being able to share their stories.

There is tremendous power in a person’s story. A person in the throes of profound grief over the impending loss of a beloved pet can be made to smile and even laugh if you can extract the right story from them. It’s in those moments that our role as veterinarian transcends to that of counselor and even friend. And it’s in those moments that some of the hardest parts of our job become the most rewarding.

Let’s say your best friend was visiting the area and you wanted to show them the best time ever. Where would you take them? Give us a little itinerary – say it was a week long trip, where would you eat, drink, visit, hang out, etc.
Our ideal Colorado Springs day starts with hiking Section 16, or showing friends visiting around Garden of the Gods. For lunch we love OCC Brewing, enjoying a “Trail Dog Porter” and “Hippie Wings” on their rooftop patio. For dessert we love Josh and John’s Ice Cream–who has the best coffee ice cream–”Mocha Java Jolt.” To top off our ideal Springs day, we would head up to Manitou to enjoy the penny arcade and all the classic pinball machines. The Border Burger Bar, is a great place for a nightcap on the riverside.

Who else deserves some credit and recognition?
White Whiskers Aging Pet Care could never exist without the support of my wife, our practice’s co-owner, Dr. Kelly Hutchison. There’s no shortage of risk in entering into a business relationship with family, no less your spouse. Yet, Kelly and I have found a balance in how we operate that magnifies both our strengths and our autonomy to succeed with said strengths, without ever feeling as though we’re stepping on each others’ toes.

Although my veterinary background is rooted in veterinary pathology, I began my advanced education in anthropology and a study of human behavior and belief. As such, my wing of our practice focuses on shepherding pets and the people who love them through the end-of-life process. Dr. Kelly, with her background in veterinary pain management and teaching, builds amazing plans which elevate the quality of life for our senior pet patients. We are so proud of the veterinary service that we’ve built, but neither one of us could have built it alone.

Kelly and I have been together for two decades and we’ve both evolved so much in both our understanding of veterinary medicine and our understanding of relationships. White Whiskers is a testament to both evolutions. We won’t pretend that every husband and wife team are well suited to go into business with each other, but for Kelly and I, it’s a match made in heaven.

Website: https://www.whitewhiskers.vet

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/whitewhiskersagingpetcare/?hl=en

Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/company/78864121

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/WhiteWhiskersAgingPetCare/

Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UClqgISebPgbz7msFklT3GPA

Image Credits
Whitney Thetford
www.homelandphotography.co