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PARK VETERINARIANS
PARK PET HOSPITAL
Dr. Porter's Dog and Cat Hospital opened on Highway 7, just east of Highway 100 in 1947.
Dr. Bennett J. Porter II was a third generation
veterinarian, starting with Thomas Portier, who came to
Minnesota from Quebec in 1858. His son, Dr. Bennett J.
Porter I was one of the first graduates of a Veterinary
college, taking his degree in 1906. His son is Dr. Bennett
J. Porter II, who came to St. Louis Park in 1948. Dr. Porter
II has two sons who are also vets: Gene and Ben.
The
hospital at first was housed in a metal building. That
building was later donated to the Village during the time
the annual carnival was held in a lot next to Lincoln
School.
When he started to build the permanent building, Porter II discovered that it was
on top of the Bass Lake lakebed, and had to put down 50 foot
pilings to support it. The new brick building was opened on
May 24, 1950: "This new, modern, fireproof hospital is
scientifically equipped to give your animal the best care
possible."
On June 1, 2005, Park Pet was consolidated at its new
Westgate building at 4345 France Avenue, and no longer had a
presence in St. Louis Park.
DR. FITCH
Dr. Ernest L. Fitch,
DVM graduated from Iowa State College in
1916, and served as a veterinarian during World War I. He
started his practice in Iowa in 1923, and came to St. Louis
Park in 1930. His Pet-Animal Hospital was located at 5700
West Lake Street, which was an old house with the capacity
of 60 animals. His house was immediately adjacent to the
hospital. In 1947 he requested a permit to make his house a
duplex. The address is now an apartment building next to the
Roller Rink.
From 1930-1940, Fitch served as village
dogcatcher.
In his ad in the professional pages of the 1939 directory,
he offered boarding, bathing, and clipping. In 1942, he was a member of the Minnesota State
Veterinary Society, and as such predicted that the horse
would make a comeback. There is an article about Dr. Fitch
in the July 13, 1961 issue of the Dispatch.
Dr. Fitch was born on February 23, 1891. His first wife
Louise died in 1935. He and his second wife, Ruth, had five
children, including sons
Robert and Ernest, Jr. Son Velman Fitch was lost at
sea on a Chinese junk sailed by Richard Haliburton in 1939. Dr. Fitch moved to Arizona in 1965,
where he died on August 22, 1979.
DR. LEWIS
Dr. B. Robert Lewis took over Fitch’s practice in 1962 until his death in 1979.
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This information comes from a variety of sources: newspapers, books, yearbooks, phone directories, interviews, etc. Given the varied sources, we cannot guarantee that all of this information is correct, and welcome any additions and corrections. Please contact us with your contributions and comments.