Dr. Bruce Berridge, originally from Birmingham, Michigan, always liked animals and medicine. So it was no surprise that Dr. Berridge chose to focus his undergraduate work in zoology. He received his Bachelor of Science degree from Michigan State University in 1970 and then earned his Doctorate of Veterinary Medicine degree from Michigan State Universities College of Veterinary Medicine in 1973.

Soon after getting his DVM, Dr. Berridge married his sweetheart Gina (Georgine) and they moved to Massachusetts where he practiced veterinary medicine at the Belmont Animal Hospital (1973-75), and the Woburn Animal Hospital (1975-77). In June, 1977, Dr. Berridge purchased the Duxbury Animal Hospital from Dr. Benjamin Dow, and the rest is history. The Duxbury Animal Hospital has been serving the Cape and South Shore communities for over thirty years.

Dr. Berridge’s time-honored values of trust, lasting relationships, professional excellence, and state of the art service are reflected by the success of this thriving family-based practice nestled in Duxbury — the community he and Gina have happily called home for so many years. They have one daughter, Megan, who now lives nearby, and two pets: one mini wire-haired dachshund named Pickles, and Peter, their 24-toed cat.

A member of the Massachusetts Veterinary Association (MVMA), Dr. Berridge attends several continuing education conferences a year to advance his skills and knowledge base in his primary interests: internal medicine and soft tissue surgery. His additional professional memberships include the American Animal Hospital Association (AAHA) – earning DAH accreditation in recognition of providing high-quality care – and the American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA).

An avid reader and die-hard Michigan State sports fan, Dr. Berridge also enjoys swimming, boating and golf.

What does Dr. Berridge love about being a veterinarian? “I really appreciate being able to do everything from dental work to surgeries and everything in between for the life span of my clients’ pets.”

Dr. Beth Buchholz got her first horse when she was in junior high school and she’s been a “horse person” ever since. By the time she reached high school, her dream was to become a veterinarian.

During her first semester at the University of Massachusetts-Amherst, Dr. Buchholz spent much of her time riding and working with horses. She then moved to Coral Gables, Florida to gain valuable experience training Arabian horses on Frank Smathers’ Arabian horse farm. After a year, Dr. Buchholtz was ready to go back to school for her undergraduate degree and then to veterinary school, as she initially planned.

Dr. Buchholz got her Bachelor of Science degree in Biology from the University of Miami in 1977, and stayed for a couple more years earning credit hours toward a Masters degree in Animal Science. While in south Florida, she worked part-time for a number of veterinarians – and one summer – worked on a cattle ranch to increase the scope of her skills.

In 1984, Dr. Buchholz received her Doctorate of Veterinary Medicine from the University of Florida College of Veterinary Medicine. She married her fiancé and fellow ’Gator, Mark Buchholz (class of ’84 – Applied Mathematics), and they moved to the Boston area. For Dr. Buchholz (born in Boston and raised in Duxbury), this was a homecoming; her parents lived on the south shore of Massachusetts.

After working at various animal clinics in the Milton area for over a decade, Dr. Buchholz became part of the veterinarian team at the Duxbury Animal Hospital in 1996.

Dr. Buchholz’s practice of preventive medicine and teaching of preventive care incorporate her deep affection for animals and her positive experiences of animal-human bonds. She enjoys helping her clients create nurturing, life-long relationships with their pets.

Combining her interest in animal-human relationships with her love of horses, Dr. Buchholz has begun a new venture: an equine assisted therapy program to help children with behavioral challenges. In 2006, she earned her certification from EAGALA, the Equine Assisted Growth and Learning Association (a non-profit organization in which horses are used in the treatment of mental health). As the equine person who supplies the horses, Dr. Buchholz works in conjunction with therapists to develop relevant and beneficial activities that support therapeutic interactions.

A member of the American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA), Dr. Buchholz attends several continuing education conferences each year to advance her veterinary medical skills and professional training. Her special interests include preventive, behavioral, and feline medicine.

Dr. Buchholz and her husband, Mark, live in Pembroke, Massachusetts. They have three children: Catherine, Jonathan and Steven; they also have six animals – one dog, two cats, a dwarf hamster and . . . two horses (one of her main hobbies). Both she and Mark enjoy pastoral counseling for their local church.

What are some of the benefits that Dr. Buchholz enjoys at DAH? “I love the relationships we’ve developed with the pets, the owners, the families . . . it’s more than just treating an animal or diagnosing disease, it’s the whole picture.”