Veterinarian and Owner
Dr. Patrick A. Kelly is a native of San Juan, Puerto Rico where he lived for the first 10 years of his life and where he became fluent in Spanish. Dr. Kelly knew he wanted to be a veterinarian since he could pronounce the word. He was raised on a 200-acre tropical paradise family compound. His parents were animal lovers and his family shared their compound with all sorts of animals, from dogs and cats to horses and monkeys. Dr. Kelly’s parents shared with him an early memory when they walked into the kitchen and found 2-year old Patrick on his hands and knees gathered around the dog food bowl, sharing the meal with his canine brothers and sisters.
He then moved to Milford, Massachusetts where he lived for 8 years. He attended Milford High School, before moving to Port St. Lucie, Florida in 1976. He attended Indian River Community College in Fort Pierce where he earned an Associate in Arts degree in 1978. He went to the University of Florida’s College of Agriculture and received a Bachelor of Science degree in Animal Science in 1981. He attended the University of Florida’s College of Veterinary Medicine and was awarded the Doctor of Veterinary Medicine in 1986. He has practiced in Port St. Lucie since his graduation.
Favorite Part of my Job
He is passionate about helping animals. He donates his time and money treating wildlife and gets a tremendous amount of satisfaction when a previously injured wild animal that he has cared for is released into the wild. Dr. Kelly, even after over 30 years in practice, still pinches himself every morning that he is privileged to be in a profession he was truly destined to do.
Dr. Kelly’s areas of interest are small animal and wildlife medicine and surgery.
Why I chose this profession
Dr. Kelly has always had a way with animals. One of the most interesting childhood experiences occurred when a male baboon escaped a traveling circus and ended up in his front yard. He befriended the dogs, wrestling with them just like he was one of them. His mother took videos of 6-year-old Patrick showing no fear and walking up to and hand-feeding the full-grown baboon. The videos survive to this day and Dr. Kelly has shown his 4 kids the origins of his love of animals and the sparks of his veterinary career.
Veterinary medicine is the ONLY career that Dr. Kelly has ever wanted. The day Dr. Kelly received his acceptance letter to the University of Florida’s College of Veterinary Medicine was one of the happiest days of his life, trailing only his marriage to his beautiful wife Carolynn, and the birth of his 4 children.
Personal Hobbies & Interests
Dr. Kelly has been happily married since 1990 to the former Carolynn Wheat and they have 4 children, William, Christopher, Katherine, and Mikaela. They are the proud grandparents of 2 beautiful granddaughters. They live on 23.5 acres in Fort Pierce with their 4 dogs, 7 cats, 4 parrots, 8 horses, 1 goat, a lamb, 5 pigs, and a sulcata tortoise. His hobbies include spending time with his family, horticulture, music, horseback riding, and sports. He is a level 4.5 tennis player.
