Ohatchee, AL — Creekbank Veterinary Clinic has officially opened its doors in Ohatchee, marking a significant milestone for both the local community and its founder, Dr. Thibault, whose vision of returning home to serve familiar faces has now become a reality.
Located at 2874 Alabama Highway 144, the clinic is now accepting patients and operating under an appointment-only model. With a team of three, clinic staff say the structure allows them to provide focused, individualized care to each animal.
“We are a small but mighty team… working hard to give each patient the time, attention, and care they deserve,” the clinic shared in its opening announcement.
Because of the limited staff, walk-in visits are not currently available. Pet owners are asked to call ahead to schedule appointments, arrive on time, and provide advance notice if they need to cancel or reschedule.
The clinic also observes a daily lunch closure from 12:00 p.m. to 1:00 p.m., during which phones and doors are temporarily closed.
For emergencies, clients are encouraged to contact the clinic first for guidance. Creekbank Veterinary Clinic refers emergency cases to Gadsden Veterinary Associates Emergency Care.
Clinic officials also emphasized their adherence to veterinary regulations regarding prescriptions. A valid Veterinarian-Client-Patient Relationship (VCPR) is required before any medications—including heartworm prevention—can be prescribed or refilled. This requires an in-person examination and cannot be waived.
The opening of Creekbank Veterinary Clinic represents the fulfillment of a goal Dr. Thibault began shaping years ago while preparing for veterinary school. Reflecting on that time, she shared a passage that continues to guide her:
“Everybody was asleep. Everybody except me, James Herriot, creeping sore and exhausted towards another spell of hard labor. Why the hell had I ever decided to become a country vet?”
She explained that her path into veterinary medicine was not something she always planned, but something that developed through experience—particularly during time spent shadowing at a small-town clinic in 2017. There, she observed a close-knit environment where relationships between veterinarian and client extended beyond routine care.
Dr. Thibault described her long-term goal as returning home to build a clinic where she could care for both animals and the people who raised her, blending the familiarity of a rural practice with expanded capabilities, including surgical services.
“I want to move back to practice for the same people who have supported me my entire life,” she wrote in her earlier reflections. “These people are family, and if I can care for them by caring for their animals, I will have accomplished a great deal.”
Community support has already played a role in the clinic’s early days, with dozens of job applications submitted and ongoing encouragement from local residents.
As Creekbank Veterinary Clinic begins operations, its mission remains centered on providing structured, attentive care while strengthening the connection between veterinary services and the community it serves.
