Veterinary care first came to Rushford when Dr. Gerald Thorington opened his practice in 1952. Dr. William Veley joined the practice in 1968 and he and Dr. Thorington built a new hospital in 1972 at its present location of 8840 Route 243, just east of Rushford, NY. The practice was re-organized as Lakewood Veterinary Service in 1984 and has continued to provide veterinary services ever since. In 1993 Dr. Robert McNeill joined the practice, becoming a full partner in 1997. Dr. Veley retired from veterinary practice in 2013 and continued to work as an office manager until he officially retired in 2020. He now stops in to say, “Hello” in between spending time with his family and in his garden. Dr. Matthew Chuff joined the practice in 2012 and became a full partner in 2018 and ran the practice with Dr. McNeill until July 2022. Dr McNeill retired in 2022.
From the 1950’s through the early 1980’s, the majority of the clients were dairy farmers and horse owners. The small animal portion of the practice has continued to grow from the 1980’s to the present, requiring the construction of a large addition to the hospital in 2006. This addition houses a new reception area and new examining rooms. We traveled to farms in Allegany, eastern Cattaraugus, western Steuben, and southern Wyoming and Livingston Counties, and limited coverage in northern Pennsylvania until July 2022. Small animal services comprised of about 35% of the practice. Dairy, equine, and other farm animal services comprised about 65%.
Drs. Chuff and McNeill had one additional associate veterinarians. Dr. Marilyn Reynolds who joined the practice in 2008.
July 1st 2022, Dr. Jeffrey Tingue purchased the practice for providing service to small animals only. The support team includes 3 licensed veterinary technicians, 2 veterinary assistants, and 2 receptionists.