Whether it be a big or small animal, a friendly face is always there to greet you at the Lloydminster Animal Hospital. Taryn Schachtel, a long-time Lloydminster area resident, is always ready to help the animals in need.
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“I do love animals, there’s a lot of work with people in the vet world and I love people, too,” said Schachtel.
She grew up just outside of Lloydminster on a small farm with her family.
Taryn Schachtel and her children accept her sportsmanship award from the provincial Scotties championship
Supplied photo
“Grew up just northeast of Marshall on a farm, that’s where I live now,” said Schachtel.
Growing up, she knew in some way she’d be working with animals.
“I decided that pretty young, I love being on the farm, so it’s either farming or in something agriculture, and vet always came to the top,” she said.
“I have horses, cows, dogs, cats and bunnies.”
She left the area briefly to attend school at the Western College of Veterinary Medicine.
“I always said I would go somewhere else first and I never did. I just came straight back here and started working,” said Schachtel.
“Family brought me back and we’re still close to the lakes and things to do.”
Her family being in the area was a key factor to her returning and remaining years later never looking back on her decision.
“We’re only 17 minutes to the clinic from my doorstop. It’s been good I have no complaints about coming back,” said Schachtel.
She graduated from post-secondary, joining the team at the Lloydminster Animal Hospital shortly after.
“It’s a great work environment and the people are awesome around here,” said Schachtel. “I love horses and cows so working here was kind of a no-brainer.”
The practice began to grow, and Schachtel was doing a mix of different animals.
“I started out doing a mix of everything, I quite liked horses and cows, and it just evolved. Our practice has grown so much in that area. That’s pretty much all I do now is horses,” she said.
Eventually, she took on a much bigger role vetting horses for the local chuckwagon events.
“The organizer was short on a vet. (It) started for a day, then it was two days, then it was a weekend then it was the whole season,” said Schachtel.
It was an opportunity for her to expand her horizons as she travelled with the races.
“It was awesome, the amount that we got to see horses and meet people, it was a great decision to do, for sure,” said Schachtel.
She travelled with the show to neighbouring cities to be the on-site vet.
“The last few years, we’ve done Poundmaker, Frog Lake, Onion Lake, Batoche (and) Kelvington,” she said.
Taryn won the Roy Bremner Memorial award alongside one of her fellow Lloydminster Animal Hospital co-workers. The award is given to those who perform outstanding work in promoting and expanding the CPCA race season.
For Schachtel, it isn’t just her love for animals that drives her. It’s also her love of giving back.
“I volunteered a lot at various things from seniors’ homes to like SPCA’s and riding camps. The list was quite large of what I volunteered at,” she said.
Over time, the things she commits her time to have changed, as she is involved in organizations for her two children.
“Now, it’s gone towards what my kids are doing, so coaching ball, helping with curling programs, 4-H, helped plan some of the NACC chuckwagon (races) last year,” said Schachtel.
Her involvement in volunteerism started with her family, as they were big parts of the community.
“For me, my family was always pretty involved in volunteering. It just kind of always seemed like the thing to do. There’s just something that feels good about giving your time and making something good happen,” said Schachtel.
“Whether you’re helping develop something in the community or help somebody’s program, lots of kids’ events are fun for me, too. (I) just get a good feeling from it.”
If her schedule allows it, Schachtel is more than happy to give her time to the community.
For her day to day, Schachtel can point to two things that make every day for her better.
“I love to spend time with my kids, for sure,” she said. “As far as my work day, my favourite part is doing horse teeth, but really anything, just making animals and people happier.”
Her long list of volunteer efforts and extracurricular activities is accented by a love of curling.
“I started when I was in Grade 6, I just like the sport, it’s fun,” said Schachtel.
Competing at the Saskatchewan phase of the Scotties Tournament of Hearts, Schachtel won the Marj Mitchell Award for sportsmanship. Today, you’ll still find Schachtel helping animals and people as the co-owner of the Lloydminster Animal Hospital.
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