Douglas Brooks, DVM
Dr. Douglas J. Brooks is the owner of Gasow Veterinary Hospital. Dr. Brooks began practicing medicine at the hospital in 1968 and purchased the hospital from Dr. Frederick H. Gasow in 1994. A native of Michigan, Dr. Brooks attended Michigan State University and received his Bachelor’s Degree in Pre-Veterinary Science in 1965. He continued his education at Michigan State University and was awarded his Doctorate of Veterinary Medicine in 1968. His professional interests include neurology and ophthalmology.
Dr. Brooks is a member of the American Animal Hospital Association, the American Veterinary Medical Association, and the Southeast Michigan Veterinary Medical Association. He and his wife Linda have a married adult daughter, Jennifer, and a grandson, Reid. Dr. Brooks’ four-legged family members include two cats and a dog. He enjoys traveling and playing golf when he’s not caring for pets at the hospital.
James Wright, DVM
Dr. James R. Wright has cared for pets at Gasow Veterinary Hospital since 1969. A native of Walled Lake, Michigan, Dr. Wright is a veterinary orthopedic surgeon. He attended Michigan State University and received his Bachelor’s Degree in Animal Science in 1968. He continued his education at the Michigan State University College of Veterinary Medicine and achieved his Doctorate of Veterinary Medicine in 1969.
Dr. Wright is a member of the Veterinary Orthopedic Society, the Southeastern Michigan Veterinary Medical Association, and the American Animal Hospital Association. He has published numerous papers on veterinary orthopedic surgery and treatments and served as past-president of both the Veterinary Orthopedic Society and the Southeastern Michigan Veterinary Medical Association. He is also the recipient of Michigan State University College of Veterinary Medicine’s Distinguished Veterinary Alumnae Award.
Dr. Wright’s animal companions include Della, a Boston terrier, and Kalie, a mixed Labrador. When he’s not busy with his duties at the hospital, Dr. Wright enjoys spending time with his wife, Janice, and practicing martial arts and boating.
Fred Dolehanty, DVM
Dr. Fred Dolehanty has practiced medicine as an associate veterinarian at Gasow Veterinary Hospital since 1972. Originally from Bay City, Dr. Dolehanty attended Michigan State University, where he graduated with honors with a Bachelor’s Degree in Pre-Veterinary Science in 1970. A year later, he was awarded his Doctorate of Veterinary Medicine with honors from Michigan State University.
Dr. Dolehanty is an honorary member of the Phi Sigma Pi National Honor Fraternity. He is also the sponsor of the Phi Sigma Pi Colin Dolehanty Tripod Scholarship and the First United Methodist Colin Dolehanty Mission Fund.
Outside the hospital, Dr. Dolehanty enjoys traveling, genealogy, theatre and spending time with family and friends. He and his wife, Nancy, have two sons and one daughter and are proud grandparents. Dr. Dolehanty shares his home with Chelsea, Winston, and Daisy, a trio of Cavalier King Charles Spaniels.
Farees Syed, DVM
Dr. Farees Syed has cared for pets at Gasow Veterinary Hospital since 2018. He attended Michigan State University in 2007 with a Degree in Animal Science. He continued his degree at St. George’s University College of Veterinary Medicine and was awarded his Doctorate of Veterinary Medicine in 2013. He is a member of the American Veterinary Medical Association.
Dr. Syed enjoys playing sports, his favorite being basketball. He and his wife love to travel during their free time.
Myda Fisher, DVM
Hailing from Franklin, Michigan, Dr. Myda Fisher has cared for animals at Gasow Veterinary Hospital since 1994. She attended Michigan State University and received her Bachelor’s Degree in Physiology in 1978. She continued her education at the Michigan State University College of Veterinary Medicine and was awarded her Doctorate of Veterinary Medicine in 1981. Her professional interests include general medicine and surgery for small animals and pocket pets.
Dr. Fisher is a member of the American Veterinary Medical Association, the Michigan Veterinary Medical Association,
Jocelyn Thompson, DVM
A native of Baltimore, Maryland, Dr. Jocelyn Thompson has cared for pets at Gasow Veterinary Hospital since August 2003. She attended Stern College for Women and received her Bachelor’s Degree in Biology in 1999. She continued her education at Michigan State University College of Veterinary Medicine and was awarded her Doctorate of Veterinary Medicine in 2003. She is a member of the American Animal Hospital Association.
Dr. Thompson, her husband Steve, and their three children Sophie, Sam, and Oliver share their home with a dog named Willie. In her free time, Dr. Thompson enjoys family time, outdoor activities, reading, bike riding, and going to the beach.
Laura Witherell, DVM
Having always had pets growing up in Jackson, Michigan, Dr. Laura Witherell experienced the joys of pet ownership first-hand. After earning her bachelor’s degree from Western Michigan University, Dr. Witherell earned her Doctorate of Veterinary Medicine from St. George’s University in 2009. Prior to working here at Gasow Veterinary Hospital, she served as a volunteer at Binder Park Zoo.
“I enjoy getting to make a difference in people’s lives by helping their pets,” said Dr. Witherell, a member of the American Veterinary Medical Association. While she enjoys all veterinary medicine, her professional interests include emergency and critical care.
When not at Gasow Veterinary Hospital, Dr. Witherell enjoys running, reading, scuba diving, water skiing, and playing volleyball. She shares her home with two dogs, Missy and Sadie, and her cat, Teddy.
Lori Ann Decker, DVM
Originally from England, Dr. Lori Ann Decker moved to the United States as a child and spent her teenage years in Connecticut knowing that she would be a veterinarian. “I just always knew it,” she says. “There was never anything else.” During high school and college, Dr. Decker volunteered at local animals shelters.
Dr. Decker attended Heidelberg College in Tiffin, Ohio, where she earned her bachelor’s degree in biology and computer science. During her undergraduate years, she served as the President of Beta Beta Beta (Biology Honor Society) and was also a member of Alpha Lambda Delta (Honor Society) and Alpha Phi Omega (Service Society). After her undergraduate studies, Dr. Decker attended the University of Illinois College of Veterinary Medicine in Urbana-Champaign. She earned her Doctorate of Veterinary Medicine in 2002.
“The most satisfying part of being a veterinarian is seeing a pet from puppyhood all the way through its senior years with the same family,” Dr. Decker says. She is a member of the American Veterinary Medical Association, and her professional interests include soft tissue surgery and dentistry.
Dr. Decker and her husband Jeffrey, a sales engineer, have two active daughters who participate in many sports and social activities. Her older daughter wants to be a veterinarian when she grows up, and the youngest wants to be a pop star or a chef. Dr. Decker is a member of the PTA and volunteers at her daughter’s school and the third grade knitting club.
At home, Dr. Decker has an English Shepherd named Porter and two long haired cats named Ace and Buddy that think they are fancy. Dr. Decker enjoys watching her daughters many sports events—gymnastics, figure skating, swimming, ballet and tap dance—as well as running. In 2016 she ran the Disneyland Half Marathon.