North Dakota\u2019s 2015 Veterinarian of the Year was killed Nov. 23 when his pickup was broadsided by a tractor-trailer rig near the town of Park River, according to published reports.<\/p>\n
Gerard Dahl, DVM, died at an intersection about four miles west of Park River Veterinary Clinic, the mixed animal practice he took over in 1996. He was 75.<\/p>\n
Announcing his death on its Facebook page, the practice called Dr. Dahl a \u201cgreat veterinarian\u201d who \u201cwas a mentor to children and adults alike.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cHis true passion was livestock,\u201d the announcement read. \u201cHe was held in high esteem for his care of large animals and achieved numerous awards and recognition. There is a saying, \u2018Do what you love, and love what you do.\u2019 Doc lived by that every day. To our clients, you were not considered \u2018just clients\u2019 to Doc, you were part of his family as well.\u201d<\/p>\n
Dozens of clients mourned his passing.<\/p>\n
Park River Mayor Dan Stenvold said the city \u201cnot only lost a pillar of the community, we lost an institution.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cThere are no words to express what Doc\u2019s loss will mean, but he lived life \u2018his\u2019 way to the very end!\u201d Stenvold wrote on the practice\u2019s Facebook page.<\/p>\n
One client described Dr. Dahl\u2019s do-everything attitude.<\/p>\n
\u201cWatched him do a C-section on one of our sows and give mouth to mouth on the baby piglets to save them,\u201d she wrote. \u201cHe respected life in all aspects and knew those piglets were part of our livelihood. And then he came into the house for coffee and a snack before he went home \u2014all after midnight. RIP.\u201d<\/p>\n
The Bismarck Tribune credited Dr. Dahl with finding the first suspected case of West Nile virus in a North Dakota animal, a horse, \u201ctreating the state\u2019s famous albino buffalo shortly after birth,\u201d and doing \u201cextensive work on treating animals to prevent the spread of anthrax after breakouts in the 2000s.\u201d<\/p>\n
He was a 1966 graduate of the University of Minnesota College of Veterinary Medicine.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
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