Hello!

I am Dr. Austin Russell, and I wanted to take a moment to introduce myself and share why I chose to open a mobile veterinary practice, Heal House Call Veterinarian, in the Canon City/Fremont County area in Colorado.

First and foremost, this area is uniquely beautiful, and river towns resonate with me. During college, I spent a summer in Canon City as a raft guide on the Royal Gorge. It was one of the most humbling and exciting experiences of my life. From the moment I arrived, I was captivated by the river—the roaring water, the cottonwood trees swaying in the wind, and the warm sun on my face. I fell in love with the raw nature and developed a deep respect for waterways and their importance to a healthy ecosystem.

I grew up in Virginia, which feels like a world away. My interest in veterinary medicine sparked early. After visiting a veterinary hospital on a school trip in second grade, I confidently told my parents and anyone who would listen that I would become a veterinarian and have my sisters work at the front desk. While that specific plan didn’t come to pass, the seed was planted.

I’ve always been fascinated by animals and wildlife. My dad was an avid hunter, and when he took me along, I was more interested in the hunting dogs and observing the deer’s behavior. Like many households, we had a variety of dogs and cats, along with the occasional pocket pet or hamster.

After high school, I attended the University of Tennessee at Chattanooga, where I earned a Bachelor of Science in Biology. Shortly after, I was accepted into Lincoln Memorial University College of Veterinary Medicine and graduated in 2021. Following my clinical year, I moved to Boulder, Colorado, completed a small animal rotating internship, and have been in Colorado ever since.

Being a mobile veterinarian means providing animals and their owners with the care they deserve—access to care, personalized and compassionate medicine, specialized recommendations, and the right for animals to transition from this world with dignity and compassion. In the clinics where I’ve worked, I’ve often felt an ache in my chest because I couldn’t devote the time each animal deserved. 

Most animals are scared in a new place with unfamiliar smells and triggers. Having the ability to slow down, discuss options, and explain the “why” of the entire experience is extremely important. I believe the human-animal bond is sacred, and I am honored to serve the community by providing mobile veterinary services with Heal House Call Veterinarian. 

I have two wonderful dogs myself: Meesha, an 11-year-old German Shepherd with the spirit of a coyote, and Rosalina, a 7-year-old Husky I adopted through Petfinder. They are both my family, and I love them very much.