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The Animal Care Center of Ooltewah
Get to Know Our Vet Team
The Animal Care Center of Ooltewah is proud to be your top choice for comprehensive vet care in Ooltewah, TN and the surrounding areas. The quality of our care starts with the quality of our team. Get to know our vet team by reading below. To schedule service, contact us now!
Dr. Mullins
For Dr. Mullins, the question of why he became a vet is complicated. He grew up on a family farm, working with dogs, cats, horses, and cattle. He can't remember a time when he wasn't around animals. His first dog was an Irish setter. His previous owner was a classmate who was unable to keep him. That is how Dr. Mullins acquired all his pets. This first dog was Lance, and he was an athletic pup, running circles around a 40-acre field for hours and leaping over 5-foot fences. He couldn't keep weight on.
Although Lance was very intelligent, he had ADD. It took work to get Lance to pay attention and understand commands. However, he loved riding in the Jeep with Dr. Mullins, and the two of them would run errands and share ice cream. By working closely with Lance, Dr. Mullins taught him to take commands, and Lance was a good companion.
Another memorable pet for Dr. Mullins was Mingo, his horse. He used to ride Mingo to school, which was a rare feat. He might have been the last person in his county to do that, but for him, it was a great way to wake up each morning. He would stake her on a rope at the school, where she would graze comfortably all day.
It wasn't just a love for animals. Growing up, Dr. Mullins learned from his parents to give back to the community. His parents were generous to individuals and organizations. He learned that he had a responsibility to his family, the community, and the world at large. Sadly, Dr. Mullins lost his father when he was a student at Sewanee, the University of the South, where he was majoring in biology with a focus on animals, plants, and the environment. In his studies, he took classes and labs during the day while he came home each night to feed the cattle and horses. Summers were consumed with farm maintenance and winter prep. Even with all this, Dr. Mullin graduated with department honors.
Becoming a veterinarian seemed to be as natural as breathing. It combined his love for animals with a desire for mental challenges. He was able to spend his days with animals while giving back to owners and the community. Dr. Mullins worked for two years in Burkina Faso, West Africa, where he took care of village livestock. His work covered oxen, donkeys, cattle, goats, sheep, and horses. There was a time when the area had a renowned and fearsome cavalry, but the usage of horses had fallen out of popularity. That made horses expensive, so they had reduced numbers. However, horses remained practical and viable for the local community. The word for bike in the local language was the same as the one for horse!
After so many years as a vet, much has changed from the day he graduated. As a vet, Dr. Mullins has to learn new skills and attain new knowledge constantly. He is invested in the best equipment and real personal development as a professional. Over the course of his career, he has seen many theories be realized, and new drugs and treatments almost seem like magic. There are better materials for suturing, better instruments, and a better understanding of animal behavior. Yet, at its core, this is still the same job that Dr. Mullins fell in love with. He still loves being a vet and can't imagine another career.
Dr. Robertson
Dr. Robertson grew up in Jackson, MS, and he completed his undergraduate studies at the University of Mississippi before earning his Doctor of Veterinary Medicine degree from Mississippi State University. After his first year of college, he took a break from school to serve in the Army National Guard. During his service, he was part of an air assault unit and later transitioned into medical evacuation as a Black Hawk crew chief.
Though his path to veterinary medicine wasn’t traditional, Dr. Robertson found his calling in the field and describes it as the most rewarding and fulfilling career he could have imagined. He has spent the last five years practicing emergency medicine in Jackson, MS.
Dr. Robertson recently relocated to Chattanooga, TN with his wife, Aleksandra, and their young son, Matthew. Their family enjoys spending time outdoors, especially anything involving rivers or mountains. Dr. Robertson also shares his home with three beloved dogs, Ron, Pal, and Hakeem.
Since moving to Chattanooga, Dr. Robertson has felt incredibly grateful to find a clinic that feels like family. He looks forward to building relationships with local pet owners and becoming an active part of the community.
Dr. Raymond Johnson
Dr. Raymond Johnson moved to Cleveland, TN, from Texas in 2020 after selling his long-running veterinary practice. A native of Austin, he holds a business degree from the University of Texas (1969) and earned his Doctor of Veterinary Medicine from Texas A&M University in 1975.
With a heart for service and a strong sense of community, Dr. Johnson has been an active volunteer firefighter for over 50 years, now proudly serving Bradley County. He is deeply committed to giving back and continues to find purpose through both emergency response and helping others.
He has been married to his wife, Kim, for more than 20 years. She also grew up in Austin and shares a love for animals and the outdoors. They now enjoy life on their acreage in Cleveland, where Dr. Johnson spends much of his free time gardening and fishing. Their home is always lively with their four dogs, two Labradors, a doodle, and a Belgian Malinois. They also have a cat and five monkeys. In addition to caring for his own animals, Dr. Johnson helps train service dogs for individuals with type 1 diabetes and wounded warriors, a cause close to his heart.
To Dr. Johnson, his coworkers are more than just colleagues. They’re a second family. His life reflects a deep dedication to animals, people, and community, shaped by decades of service, compassion, and connection.
Meet Our Other Staff Members
