About Bear Creek Animal Hospital
The staff at Bear Creek Animal Hospital strives to meet one goal: to provide high quality, comprehensive and compassionate healthcare to our clients and their pets, both large and small, that is also affordable.
Bear Creek Animal Hospital is a family-owned and operated veterinary clinic that has been providing veterinary services in the Craig, CO community for over 80 years. Originally known as McCandless Animal Hospital, Bear Creek Animal Hospital passed ownership from one family to the next in 1998. Our animal hospital has a longstanding history of progressive, responsive, and compassionate health care for animals of all types.
Our animal health professionals are trained to prevent, diagnose and treat illnesses that affect a variety of species, both large and small. Our services include general wellness exams, vaccinations, diagnostic services, prescription and preventative medication, surgery, dentistry, spay and neuter procedures, and more. Other services include monitoring the reproductive health of breeding stock, artificial breeding semination, pre-purchase examinations, radiographs, and ultrasounds.
Our office is equipped with state-of-the-art laboratory and veterinary technology and equipment that enable our veterinarians to perform ultrasound imaging therapy and a number of other specialized animal care services.
Bear Creek Animal Hospital is also associated with Bear Creek Labradors, a locally-owned, family-run labrador kennel. Labradors are raised and trained onsite, derived from the finest pedigree lines available. Learn more here at www.bclabradors.com.
Meet our Veterinarians
At Bear Creek Animal Hospital, our dedicated staff works round the clock in order to ensure that your pet is healthy and happy. With 90 years of combined experience, our caring and knowledgeable team of veterinarians are committed to providing your pets with the best care possible. Dr. Hepworth and the team work hard to stay abreast of the newest technology and practices, all while keeping services cost-effective and affordable. Our staff is friendly, approachable, and committed to the wellness and satisfaction of every client and their animal companion.
Kelly Hepworth, DVM
Practice Owner
Dr. Kelly Hepworth is originally from Laramie, Wyoming, and grew up participating in the local 4-H and FFA. He received his Bachelors from the University of Wyoming in Wildlife Resource Management, followed by his Masters from UW in Range Management in 1988. Dr. Hepworth then managed a 10,000 acre ranch near Laramie for 3.5 years followed by serving as a county extension agent in southern Colorado and south central Wyoming for a total of 4 years. In 1993 Dr. Hepworth followed his lifelong passion for veterinary medicine and his desire to become a surgeon and started veterinary school at Colorado State University.
Shortly after obtaining his Doctor of Veterinary Medicine degree in 1997, Dr. Hepworth started working at Bear Creek Animal Hospital, and in 1998 Dr. Hepworth purchased the clinic from Dr. Neil McCandless. Together with his wife, Sarah, Dr. Hepworth also runs Bear Creek Labradors. Outside of veterinary medicine and breeding labs, Dr. Hepworth enjoys hunting, fishing and spending time with his wife Sarah, and daughter, Emily.
Gary Visintainer, DVM
Erica Schrader, DVM
Kim Radway, DVM
Radiology Consultant
What Our Patients Are Saying
“I have been taking my animals to Dr. Hepworth for many years. Kelly and his staff have my up most respect. Day or night they are just a phone call away. My animals are a very special part of my family and there is no one I trust more to take care of them than Dr. Hepworth and his staff.”
Sarah Briggs
“Dr Hepworth and his staff take the time and extra special care of all our animals from the chinchillas to the cows and horses. I won’t take our animals anywhere else because I know that Dr Hepworth and his team will do whatever is needed to give them the best care possible. Dr Hepworth is always available at any time of day and is so knowledgeable! My animals only deserve the best and Dr Hepworth is where it’s at!”
Jen Hume
“Dr. Hepworth is very hardworking and always puts his furry patients first!”