Courtesy of Lisa Anderson Photography Veterinarian Dr. Rebecca Severn poses with her dogs.

Dr. Rebecca Vollrath Severn has wanted to be a veterinarian since third grade.

“I never changed my mind after that,” says the owner of Copper Country Veterinary Clinic.

At first, veterinary work attracted her because she loved animals and wanted to work with them every day.

“As I got older, the profession was attractive to me because of its versatility,” she says. “I enjoy knowing that each day is going to be very different from the last, and you never know what will walk through the door.”

Severn grew up in Houghton. She studied biology at Michigan Tech, then attended Michigan State University College of Veterinary Medicine.

But she always wanted to return home.

“I traveled a lot during school to learn from different practices around the country and never found that I truly wanted to live anywhere else but the Upper Peninsula,” she says.

Severn’s love for horses dates back to childhood. She did specialized study in equine veterinary medicine after veterinary school and participated in the Peterson and Smith Equine Hospital Practicum, which took her to large equine hospitals all over the country.

“There was a need for more large animal veterinarians here,” she says, “and I could bring that back with me.”

At CCVC, which Severn bought in 2019, she sees small animals–dogs and cats–although she also treats large animals, mostly horses and the occasional goat, cow or alpaca.

The veterinarian sees pets all day, then goes home to what she calls “a menagerie”–two dogs, two cats, six horses, two donkeys and “too many chickens and ducks to count.” She’s named them all. The dogs are Chester and Olive, and the cats–who live at the clinic–are Gus and Elwood. The horses are Whiskey, Prada, Beau, Willow, Dottie and Cocoapuff. The donkeys are Mama and Peaches.

“I could list all of my chickens’ names, but then people might think I’m a crazy chicken lady,” she says. 

As if that’s not enough, she’s thinking about getting some cattle one day.

Why did Severn buy CCVC?

“I always wanted to be an owner, because I’m not a good employee,” she explains. “I have very strong opinions on how I want to practice medicine and the culture I want to foster in the workplace, and I felt I could only do that as an owner.”

She spends long hours at the clinic, and when she’s not working, she finds time to show horses. Her ultimate goal is to win a title at national shows. “It takes a lot of work to show horses at the level I am trying to, but I have a wonderful support system of trainers and friends to help make it happen,” she says.

She’s also focusing on raising her toddler, Charlotte, with support from her husband, who takes on child care during her long hours away from home.

Her staff love working for the veterinarian.

“I enjoy working with Dr. Severn because of the hard work, compassion and patience she has,” says Alix Gaffney, a receptionist and vet assistant who also maintains the clinic’s equipment and inventory.

Henry Hernandez, who has an associate’s degree in veterinary technology, says: “I enjoy working for Rebecca because she is very down-to-earth. I like that she shares the same passion for the work we do. She also strives to improve and learn more all the time, and she provides her employees with the same opportunities.”

Her patients love her, too. Carrie Tapani says that seven years ago, Severn treated her elderly chocolate lab, who was suffering with arthritis and mast cell cancer.

“She gave us extra time with Trixie that we thought we wouldn’t have,” Tapani says. “Trixie has long ago passed, but Dr. Severn continues to care for our labs like they were her own pets. She is compassionate and always puts their well- being first.”

Severn clearly has found her place, in veterinary medicine and in the hearts of her patients and those who work with her.