Our full-service hospital is home to advanced technology and modern amenities. Whether your pet needs emergency care or is simply visiting for a wellness exam, our doctors are experienced in a wide-range of conditions and treatments. Beyond first-rate pet care, comfort is a top priority and we strive to create a welcoming and calming atmosphere for your pet. We want your beloved companion to feel at home!
With a focus on preventative care, we strive to maintain good health and believe in the power of client education. By being a knowledgeable pet owner, your pet will be happier and healthier between visits—and we want to help! Check out our helpful resources and informative articles. If you have any questions about our facility or services, do not hesitate to call us.
We treat your pets like the valued family members they are.
In June of 1951, Dwight Veterinary Clinic opened its doors under the ownership of Dr. Robert K. Gay. At this time, the practice was predominately related to livestock. However, with the change in agricultural practices during the late 1950’s, Dr. Gay’s practice gradually shifted to treating companion animals.
In 1975, Dr. Gay opened Pine Bluff Animal Hospital and expanded his practice to six veterinarians. At this time, the practice was 60% small animal and 40% large animal. An L.L.C. was formed in 1999 with Dr. Gay, Dr. Louis Cronin (Kansas State, 1975), Dr. Larry Johnson (Missouri, 1976), Dr. Brian Schmidt (Illinois, 1982), and Dr. R. Todd Gay (Illinois, 1983). With the addition of six new veterinarians, the practice now solely focused on small animal care.
To better serve the pets and pet owners of Morris, Illinois, Lakewood Animal Hospital opened its doors in 1992. In 2011, the practice added its fourth clinic, Skinner Animal Clinic, to serve the Wilmington, Illinois area. All four locations are full-service hospitals offering general medicine, surgical procedures, dentistry, nutritional and behavioral counseling, and emergency services. Pine Bluff Animal Hospital is our referral center, performing orthopedic and soft-tissue surgeries for our patients, as well as other clinics in the area.
It is our greatest pleasure to serve our clients and care for their four-legged family members! We welcome you to come in and meet our highly-trained staff. Feel free to also stop by for a tour of our facilities! If you cannot visit, you can learn more about our dedicated staff and state-of-the-art facilities on our associated clinics websites.
“We love what we do… We love who we do it for!”
Dr. Robert K. Gay, the founder of Dwight Veterinary Clinic which evolved into the Dwight-Pine Bluff-Lakewood Animal Hospitals, LLC passed away on February 14, 2005. Our clinics lost an extremely talented veterinarian and a true friend. Dr. Gay was a renowned mentor of many young veterinarians and set up the partnerships which would keep our practices thriving.
Dr. Gay graduated from the Ontario Agricultural College and Ontario Veterinary College of the University of Guelph, Canada in 1950. He opened his first clinic in Dwight in 1951, followed by Pine Bluff Animal Hospital in 1975, and later Lakewood Animal Hospital in 1992.
He will be remembered for his undying love of animals and his devotion to the people of Central, Illinois. In his own words, “I don’t know what I would have rather done and I don’t know a place I’d rather have done it in. It’s been a wonderful life.”
Farewell, good friend.
On the corner of Pine Bluff Road and County Rd 8000 E. Across the intersection from Dresden Cooling Lake.
Phone: 815-942-5365
