Dr. Fred Freeland offers unique care to clients’ pets

ALBANY — Albany veterinarian Fred Freeland is not one to put himself up for martyrdom or sainthood.

But there are those among his clients, people whose pets Freeland has given his personal treatment now for years, who might make such nominations.

Freeland, who brought his brand of personal veterinary care to Albany 24 years ago, announced recently to his mostly adoring clients that he is in the process of phasing out his East Albany Animal Clinic, a clinic through which Freeland has “helped thousands of pets, including several thousand free-roaming cats,” but where, he laments, “we have sacrificed unknown hours of family time, working essentially 365 days a year … and given up hundreds of thousands of dollars in personal income.”

And while Freeland, who looks a decade or so younger than his 71 years, plans to continue his work as an independent relief veterinarian for the next several years through his Freedom Veterinary Relief business, he admits that his brand of care has left him struggling into retirement.

“Over the years, I’ve been accused of spending too much time with each animal that I cared for,” Freeland said. “But I’ve always hated the idea of generating ‘x’ amount of income per visit, of limiting the time to a set number of minutes … all in the name of making money. I guess I’m the quintessential dinosaur, but I get that connection that people have with their pets.

“I know of colleagues who make $250,000, $300,000 a year. Most of the income we’ve received over the years has been used to further our mission.”

Freeland’s style of Southern hospitality did not come to him naturally. He was born, after all, in Cedar Lake, Ind., and moved with his family to Ohio when he was 10. He, with his seven siblings, lived an idyllic life that included plenty of days enjoying nature.

“My brothers and I, especially, would get up in the morning and head for the woods,” Freeland said of his boyhood. “We’d be gone all day. We loved it.

“Our dad dreamed a lot, and he had dreams for us. We had a full basketball court, a baseball field and a pond on our property. It was a great life.”

Freeland chose veterinary science as a field of study when he entered Miami (of Ohio) University, but as he neared graduation he changed direction, choosing instead to finish requirements for a degree in secondary education. That plan, at least initially, was a bust.

“I lived with my grandparents a few months of the school year and taught in Nebba, Idaho: life science and physical science to seventh-, eighth- and ninth-graders,” he said. “Things went so badly, I almost quit after the first year. But I told myself, ‘I never quit; give this a chance,’ and went back. The next year I was a finalist for teacher of the year.”

But Freeland did a 180, deciding that he did indeed want to get a degree in veterinary science. He worked odd temp jobs — “putting together Ore-Ida’s corporate headquarters, pushing loads of pulp” — before being accepted in Washington State University’s vet med program, from which he graduated cum laude.

Of all places, Freeland’s first stop after graduation was at Abraham Baldwin Agricultural College (ABAC) in Tifton.

“I wanted to come East, and I looked into possibilities in several states, but the ad for the position at ABAC offered the opportunity to teach and practice veterinary medicine,” Freeland said.

He overcame what he said was “huge culture and climate shock” to settle in at the south Georgia college, only to have — four years into his tenure — the veterinary program discontinued. What followed were a series of jobs at veterinary clinics: Quailwood Animal Hospital in Tifton, At-Home Vet Care and Relief Services, Albany Animal ER and, ultimately, the East Albany Animal Clinic. Over those 38 years, he developed a reputation for providing uniquely compassionate care for the animals he treated.

“The job at Quailwood was the only one I was ever fired from,” Freeland laughed. “We were all working on a Saturday, and it was really rocking. I made the comment that ‘you can’t let your clients run you ragged,’ and the owner said, ‘If you feel like that, step out.’ And I did.

“I came in on Monday, and my name was no longer on the wall.”

After moving to Albany in 1997, Freeland refined a “bedside manner” that has endeared him with clients throughout the region. And even as he’s phasing out his East Albany clinic, loyal clients say they will follow him wherever he goes.

“I’ve been a client of Dr. Freeland’s since he opened his business,” Stacia Cabo said. “He’s a great doctor, a nice person. I can’t remember if the initial ad I saw used the term ‘holistic,’ but that’s the kind of treatment he gave my pets. He has always done what needed to be done, and he’s absolutely honest with you.

“I will follow him wherever he goes. I have seven cats now and a dog, and he takes great care of them. In fact, some of the cats I have, I got from him.”

Carol Wilch said “convenience” was the reason she started calling on Freeland’s clinic, but over the years she’s stayed with him because of the care he shows for her pets.

“I’ve got 20 cats now and two dogs,” Wilch said. “I went to his east Albany clinic because it was convenient and the hours and cost were reasonable. But I’ve stayed with him because of the care he shows for the animals he treats. He’s very sympathetic; you know he cares.”

Freeland said his work ethic, and the empathy he has for the animals he treats, comes from lessons he learned from his father.

“My dad always told us, ‘You are not special; you’re not extraordinary. Everything you do is a measure of your worth in this world, and your purpose here is to make someone else’s life better,'” he said.

Freeland will continue his life’s work as an independent relief veterinarian for various clinics in the region. He and wife Michelle plan to meet clients’ medication and dietary needs through their online store. And they will see patients through appointments only. The goal is to get to a point where they can retire without having to worry about their livelihood.

“This mission we have been so passionate about has brought us to our knees,” Freeland said. “We hope to navigate the changes ahead with as much grace as we can muster.

“As I look back over my life, I don’t really feel successful based on the standards most people care about. But I’ve survived. There’s that … I’ve survivied.”

Staff Photo: Tara Fletcher