Annette Van Goosen, DVM

As a shy child, Dr. Annette Van Goosen always felt that her best friends were her family’s cats and dogs. By the time she was in high school, Dr. Van Goosen was spending most of her free time training and showing her Dachshunds. The feelings of accomplishment and pride she got from helping pets made one thing very clear: Dr. Van Goosen was destined for a career in animal care!

Born in Indiana, Dr. Van Goosen moved with her family to the Atlanta area when she was in the fourth grade. After high school, she attended the University of Georgia to receive her degree in poultry science, then earned her DVM degree from the University’s College of Veterinary Medicine. After working as an Associate Veterinarian for 20 years in Smyrna and Marietta,

Dr. Van Goosen bought Town and Country Animal Hospital in 2006 and has been happily practicing veterinary medicine here ever since. She has a special passion for pediatric medicine; the feeling she gets when bottle feeding a baby animal is like no other!

Dr. Van Goosen and her husband, JD, have four children: Sara, Alison, Jonathan, and Aimee. At home, Dr. Van Goosen shares her life with Pipsqueak, a Chihuahua/Dachshund mix; two Belgian Malinois dogs named Twister and Malaika; Duncan the cat; five horses who go by Lisa, Choco, April, Lio, and Chevy; and a pair of goats named Dottie and Carmel.

When she isn’t caring for pets here at the hospital or spending time with her own furry companions, Dr. Van Goosen enjoys dancing and hiking. She and Aimee have been section-hiking the Appalachian Trail, and have completed the entire Georgia trail and half of the North Carolina portion! (Source)