INTERVIEW: ‘Dr. Jeff: Rocky Mountain Vet’ gears up for new Animal Planet show

Denver may never be the same again.

Dr. Jeff Young, subject of the new Animal Planet show Dr. Jeff: Rocky Mountain Vet, has been helping his clients and their pets for some time, and his following is legendary. The veterinarian has seen more than 80,000 clients who have called on the Planned Pethood Plus clinic. When the pets can’t make it to the Denver office, he takes to the road and dispenses help from a mobile unit.

Young is a pet lover who the network identifies as not “your average vet.” The series premieres 10 p.m. Saturday, July 11 on Animal Planet.

Recently, Hollywood Soapbox exchanged emails with Young. Answers have been slightly edited for style.

What made you want to work with animals?

I’ve always wanted to be a vet. When I was a boy, I had an animal that died in my arms, and I felt so helpless. And I knew then that I wanted to help these creatures as much as I could. I was always dragging stray animals home with me, and I also spent my summers on a farm growing up, surrounded by all sorts of animals. What I love most about my job is surgery — not just the challenge of doing it, but really putting animals back together — it’s so rewarding.

How do you keep the clinic’s services affordable for everyday pet companions?

Our model at the clinic is high volume and low cost. So in order for us to accommodate low-cost animal care, we see an enormous amount of clients. My client base is more than 80,000.

What’s the toughest part of your job?

The hardest part of my job is addressing the neglected cases. And because our clinic is so unique in that we serve the underserved communities, we see animals that had to be turned away from other clinics because of higher prices. So by the time the owners find us, sometimes weeks later, the problems are exacerbated. … They show up at our doors, and they can be completely broken up.

Do you believe the failure of so many people to spay and neuter their pets is a major problem for animals?

There’s no question that spaying and neutering is the most humane way to reduce the overpopulation problem, and we’re making a lot of progress now compared to years ago. If we spay and neuter animals, we don’t have [to] put down animals as a means to control the population. In addition, their health is improved tremendously over their lifetimes. This also means that we’re keeping the owners’ health care bills low as intact pets have much higher risks for diseases and complications.

Are you more of a dog person or cat person? Or both? Why?

I’m both! They both have their merits. I love all animals equally.

By John Soltes / Publisher / John@HollywoodSoapbox.com

• Dr. Jeff: Rocky Mountain Vet premieres 10 p.m. Saturday, July 11 on Animal Planet. Click here for more information.