Sundays take over Heartland Veterinary Clinic

Doctors Don and Amy Sunday, both licensed veterinarians, are the new owners and operators of Heartland Veterinary Health Center, L.L.C. in Holton.

Amy worked with Dr. Tim Parks at the clinic for two years before the opportunity arose for the young couple to purchase the business. The Sundays took ownership of the clinic on June 1.

“A job opportunity came up for Dr. Parks, and he approached us to see if we would be interested in purchasing the clinic,” Amy said. “We wish Dr. Parks and Dyann the best, and we’re just thankful for this opportunity.”

A native of rural Netawaka, Amy is the daughter of Larry and Lisa Gerhardt. She graduated from Jackson Heights High School in 2005, and then received a volleyball scholarship at Hesston College, where she studied for two years.

Amy then transferred to Kansas State University where she received a bachelor of science degree in agriculture and then entered into the KSU veterinary program, graduating in 2012.

Her interest in being a vet started in high school when she job shadowed Dr. Parks.

“I enjoyed animals and I wanted to work in a rural community and come back to this area,” Amy said of interest in veterinary medicine. “Being a vet combines my love of science and working with animals.”

Don grew up on a small farm in Dover, Penn.

“I always knew I wanted to work with animals,” Don said.

He spent two years at Black Hawk College in Moline, Ill. on a livestock judging scholarship before transferring to K-State for his undergraduate degree in animal science and then veterinary school.

Don and Amy were in the same graduating class at vet school and met when they were partnered together in a junior surgery class.

“We got paired together by chance,” Amy said. They will celebrate their second wedding anniversary this August.

From 2012 to 2013, the couple worked together at a veterinary practice in Dover.

“Dr. Parks contacted me then and said he needed to hire someone, and he knew I would be interested in coming back to Kansas,” Amy said.

With more and more housing developments and urban sprawl occurring in Dover, Don said Kansas offered him and Amy more “room to breathe.”

For the past two years while Amy has worked for Dr. Parks, Don worked for a mixed animal clinic in Emporia and then for one in Atchison.

The couple will continue to offer veterinary medicine and surgery services for small and large animals, as well as boarding animals for people headed out of town for summer vacation. Don will also be offering a new embryo transfer service for cattle.

“It’s a process where you take a highly valuable cow and give it a series of injections to become super ovulated and then you have the ability to produce more calves from her,” he said.

As summer temperatures soar and ticks and other pests arrive, Don wants to remind all pet owners to be prepared.

“People need to make sure that they are continuing their heartworm medication and are keeping an eye out for heatstroke in their pets,” he said. “Have plenty of water and be careful about leaving dogs in cars. Make sure your outdoor dogs have some shade.”

 They’ll continue to offer 24-hour emergency care. Business hours will remain 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Friday and 8 a.m. to noon on Saturday by appointment.

“We’ve kept the same staff, and we are taking new clients,” Amy said. “We’re excited about being here and look forward to serving the community.”

The Sundays own a border collie and a cat and also run a small cattle operation.

For more information, call 364-4495. Doctors Don and Amy Sunday, both licensed veterinarians, are the new owners and operators of Heartland Veterinary Health Center, L.L.C. in Holton.

Amy worked with Dr. Tim Parks at the clinic for two years before the opportunity arose for the young couple to purchase the business. The Sundays took ownership of the clinic on June 1.

“A job opportunity came up for Dr. Parks, and he approached us to see if we would be interested in purchasing the clinic,” Amy said. “We wish Dr. Parks and Dyann the best, and we’re just thankful for this opportunity.”

A native of rural Netawaka, Amy is the daughter of Larry and Lisa Gerhardt. She graduated from Jackson Heights High School in 2005, and then received a volleyball scholarship at Hesston College, where she studied for two years.

Amy then transferred to Kansas State University where she received a bachelor of science degree in agriculture and then entered into the KSU veterinary program, graduating in 2012.

Her interest in being a vet started in high school when she job shadowed Dr. Parks.

“I enjoyed animals and I wanted to work in a rural community and come back to this area,” Amy said of interest in veterinary medicine. “Being a vet combines my love of science and working with animals.”

Don grew up on a small farm in Dover, Penn.

“I always knew I wanted to work with animals,” Don said.

He spent two years at Black Hawk College in Moline, Ill. on a livestock judging scholarship before transferring to K-State for his undergraduate degree in animal science and then veterinary school.

Don and Amy were in the same graduating class at vet school and met when they were partnered together in a junior surgery class.

“We got paired together by chance,” Amy said. They will celebrate their second wedding anniversary this August.

From 2012 to 2013, the couple worked together at a veterinary practice in Dover.

“Dr. Parks contacted me then and said he needed to hire someone, and he knew I would be interested in coming back to Kansas,” Amy said.

With more and more housing developments and urban sprawl occurring in Dover, Don said Kansas offered him and Amy more “room to breathe.”

For the past two years while Amy has worked for Dr. Parks, Don worked for a mixed animal clinic in Emporia and then for one in Atchison.

The couple will continue to offer veterinary medicine and surgery services for small and large animals, as well as boarding animals for people headed out of town for summer vacation. Don will also be offering a new embryo transfer service for cattle.

“It’s a process where you take a highly valuable cow and give it a series of injections to become super ovulated and then you have the ability to produce more calves from her,” he said.

As summer temperatures soar and ticks and other pests arrive, Don wants to remind all pet owners to be prepared.

“People need to make sure that they are continuing their heartworm medication and are keeping an eye out for heatstroke in their pets,” he said. “Have plenty of water and be careful about leaving dogs in cars. Make sure your outdoor dogs have some shade.”

 They’ll continue to offer 24-hour emergency care. Business hours will remain 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Friday and 8 a.m. to noon on Saturday by appointment.

“We’ve kept the same staff, and we are taking new clients,” Amy said. “We’re excited about being here and look forward to serving the community.”

The Sundays own a border collie and a cat and also run a small cattle operation.

For more information, call 364-4495.