Meet Our Team

Dr. Kent Law

Owner, Veterinarian

The Veterinary Clinic of Symbioun was started in 1984 as a general practice. At the time, our client base was 50% greyhound, 25% pets and horses, and 25% cattle. At the urging of our greyhound clients, we started freezing canine semen and began to offer breeding services with frozen semen.

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Now that Veterinary Clinic of Symbioun has grown and we have a larger, trusted, quality team, we have been able to expand reproduction work to other breeds of dogs and accommodate pet clients at the same time. Thanks to the opportunity given to us by the greyhound community, we have been able to provide the same reproductive services to breeders of hunting dogs, service dogs, working dogs, show dogs, and more. We can’t thank the greyhound industry enough for this opportunity and their support.

Dr. Law grew up on a farm in Clay County, Kansas. During the Vietnam conflict, he was a Navy Hospital Corpsman who worked in Aviation Medicine. After honorable discharge from the military, he went to Veterinary Medical school at Kansas State University and then the University of Saskatchewan as an intern. This combined his interests in animals and medicine in one profession. Dr. Law enjoys working with owners and animals and seeing positive outcomes in both breeding and routine medicine. While Dr. Law’s primary interest is in theriogenology (animal reproduction), theriogenology is inclusive of medicine, surgery, pathology, nutrition, and behavior. Dr. Law’s current goals are to continue growing Veterinary Clinic of Symbioun as a canine reproduction center and small animal practice.

In his personal life, Dr. Law spends time with his wife Janie, who is a retired RN, and Janie’s pet cats, Peaches and Pumpkin. They have two daughters who are both mothers and teachers, two great sons-in-law, and numerous grandchildren. The clinic has one pet, “Kippa,” an aspiring cattle dog. The clinic has had a series of Greyhound Pets, the latest being “Effie,” who passed away in the summer of 2024.

Dr. Ian Patterson

Associate Veterinarian

Dr. Patterson began working for Symbioun during the Summer of 2017 as a technician/assistant while attending veterinary school at Kansas State University. Following graduation in 2021, Dr. Patterson joined the clinic as an Associate Veterinarian. Dr. Patterson’s primary interests are in canine reproduction, bird dog first aid, and surgery. With hunting dogs of his own, he has developed a great working knowledge base related to bird dogs and working/performance dogs in general. Dr. Patterson takes great pride in providing canine reproduction services and enjoys the unique opportunity it provides to continuing the genetics of client dogs and historic lines with the goal of improving all breeds.

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Dr. Patterson is supported by his wife, Lindsy, and their new daughter, Charli. They currently share their home with four dogs: Winnie (Bernese Mountain Dog), Bubbs (retired racing Greyhound), and two German Wirehaired Pointers, Basin and Gully. Outside of work, Dr. Patterson spends his time experimenting with new recipes in the kitchen, experimenting with his new hobby of woodworking, and enjoying time with family traveling for hunting/skiing trips or just lazy days at home.

Mel

Office Manager

Mel has worked at Symbioun since September of 2013. She holds one associate degree in Healthcare Administration and one in Billing & Coding. She has worked in the medical field for over 20 years.

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Mel’s favorite thing about working with animals is seeing all of their different personalities. She briefly worked for a vet in high school and had always wanted to work in the veterinary field, but life happened. Mel actually lives in Minneapolis, KS, but could not turn down the position that Dr. Law offered her in his clinic – it was like a dream come true! She is now able to work in the two fields she loves, medicine & animals.

Mel’s family includes her husband, 3 grown sons, and 2 dogs (Ty the boxer and Bear the cane corso/mastiff). When not at work, she enjoys reading, camping, family time, and being a wife, mom, and grandma.

Sherri

Receptionist

Sherri started at Symbioun in December 2013. She has 30 years of clerical and accounts payable experience, making her a perfect fit for our front office team. She grew up on a farm and later moved to Abilene with her husband. Her time spent around animals led her to develop a love and passion for them all. She loves helping with animals around the clinic and greeting the pet parents that walk through our doors. Sherri and her husband Ron have 2 daughters and 2 son-in-laws, 1 bonus son, as well as 8 grandchildren. Sherri loves traveling, going on cruises, camping, playing cards and spending her time outside of work living life to it’s fullest with family and friends.

Annie

Technician Supervisor

Annie Clark started at Symbioun in January of 2014 and has been a Veterinary Technician for over 20 years. She relocated to Abilene from San Diego, CA in 2013, where she had worked as a technician at a specialty hospital. She handles the studs we collect as well as international semen shipping.

Tia

Veterinary Technician

Tia began working for Symbioun in 2018. She works in the veterinary field due to her love of animals. Tia resides on a farm outside of Abilene with her 3 dogs (Ivy, Charmin, and Molly) and 3 horses (Penny, Monty, and Kate).

Karlee

Veterinary Technician

Karlee Thrush started at Symbioun in the summer of 2022. She is planning on graduating from Colby Community College for a veterinary nursing/technician. She currently lives outside of Minneapolis, KS on a farm. Growing up she was always around large animals which led her to work at a vet and own her own horse. She currently has 2 quarter horses (Red and Jose) and now a 2-year-old wild mustang (Vegas) that she is breaking by herself.

Jordain

Veterinary Technician

Jordain first joined Symbioun in 2020, briefly moved to McPherson, and returned to the clinic in 2023. She currently lives outside of Soloman with her boyfriend and their dog. In her free time, she loves hunting, fishing, and spending time outdoors.