Veterinarians in Chillicothe, OH
Dr. Thomas L. Tharp
Dr. Tharp is the owner and senior veterinarian of Tharp Animal Health Care Center Inc. He is a proud graduate of The Ohio State University College of Veterinary Medicine with interest in Small and Large Animal Medicine with undergraduate studies in Animal Nutrition. In 1980, he received his Doctorate of Veterinary Medicine.
“I have a number of areas of professional interest including soft tissue and orthopedic surgery and I am certified in advanced laser surgery. I especially value getting to meet so many different people and being able to assist them in keeping their pet healthy and happy throughout their life together.”
What Inspired You to become a Veterinarian?
”I am the second of three generations of Tharp veterinarians. Being raised on a farm in Hilliard, Ohio, with my father being a veterinarian, my heart was given early to the love of pets and animals. My father, Dr. Vernon Tharp dedicated his life to the veterinary profession as an educator being the Associate Dean of Veterinary Medicine at The Ohio State University’s College of Veterinary Medicine and later Vice-President of the World Veterinary Congress.
“As a boy, my father took me on large animal calls where he guided me in assisting him with some of his patients. This left a lasting impact on me as well. Simply stated, my father has been an inspiration to me throughout my life. On our farm, I grew up with all types of pets and I also raised and showed Registered Polled Herefords as a member of 4H for 10 years. This is one reason I love offering my services to farmers and those who are in 4H whether they have large or small animals. It is very personal to me and I know how important health care is for an animal or pet to thrive and be its best.”
Our family was honored with the name of the street where The Ohio State Veterinary Medical Center is located being named for my father.
Serving the Veterinary Profession through Organizations
Dr. Tharp proudly serves and holds some important positions on a number of veterinary organizations. He is President of the Ross County Academy of Veterinarians, Trustee and past Vice-President of the Ohio Animal Health Foundation, member of the Small Animal Advancement Advisory Board for The Ohio State University College of Veterinary Medicine, member and past District Representative to the Ohio Veterinary Medical Association, member of the American Veterinary Medical Association, and member of The Ohio State Veterinary Alumni Association.
Serving the Community
Dr. Tharp values the community in which he and his wife live and have raised their children. He is a proud member and President of the Board of the Ross County Christian Academy, Chairman of Personnel and Deacon at Chillicothe Baptist Church where he and his family have been members since 1983. Dr. Tharp and his wife taught Young Singles College and Career Bible Study for 11 years. He is past member and President of the Zane Trace School Board, member of the Ross County Humane Society and a consultant to the Pike and Jackson County Humane Societies. Dr. Tharp and his wife Judy are both lifetime members of The Ohio State University Alumni Association and members of The Ohio State University Ross County Alumni Association.
Family Man and Pet Owner
Dr. Tharp has been married to his high school sweetheart, Judy Byrd Tharp since 1977. Judy is a professional artist and also oversees bookkeeping and advertising for Tharp Animal Health Care Center. They are parents of two grown children and grandparents of one grandson. Son, Lance is married to Lauren and lives in Louisville, Kentucky, where he is pursuing his Doctorate of Dentistry at the University of Louisville. Daughter, Dr. Kristal Tharp Bechtold is married to David and received her Doctorate of Veterinary Medicine in 2009 and is Associate Veterinarian at Tharp Animal Health Care Center. Kristal and David have one son, Dawson. Dr. Tharp owns a black lab named Brando, adopted from the Ross County Prisoner Rehabilitation Program of the Ross County Humane Society, a rescued stray cat named Whisper and a Quarter horse named Saber.
Hobbies and Interests
Dr. Tharp enjoys golfing, fishing, working out, spending time with his wife and family, singing in the church choir for special productions and watching Ohio State Buckeyes!
Unusual or Memorable Veterinary Cases
Delivering 17 live Mastiff puppies by C-section, healing of a dog who had lost a massive amount of skin over his body from being dragged under a car, the removal of a massive 25 pound tumor from the exterior rear leg of a foal and the reconstruction of an obstructed urinary tract in a steer, among others.
Dr. Kristal Tharp Bechtold
Dr. Bechtold is the Associate Veterinarian at Tharp Animal Health Care Center since receiving her Doctorate of Veterinary Medicine in 2009. “I hold a particular interest in veterinary dentistry besides meeting the challenge of diagnosing a pet’s health problem. I especially enjoy meeting with clients and developing a relationship with them and their pets and providing support to clients through the good and the hard times with their pets,” she says.
What Inspired You to become a Veterinarian?
“I am the third of three generations of Tharp veterinarians which started with my grandfather, Dr. Vernon Tharp and then my father, Dr. Tom Tharp. I grew up around the profession watching my dad do surgeries and going out on calls with him. I knew from a very early age that I had a passion for helping animals and wanted to follow in my father’s and grandfather’s footsteps. I grew up with dogs and cats and also knew I had a compassionate heart for their well being. I was also very active in 4H showing horses, steers and pigs. Animals have always been an enjoyable part of my life.”
Educational Background and Honors
Dr. Bechtold is a 2009 graduate of The Ohio State University College of Veterinary Medicine. Recipient of The American College of Veterinary Surgeons and the ACVS Foundation Student Surgery Award for Excellence in Large Animal Surgery; Inductee into the Phi Zeta Veterinary Honor Society.
In 2005, she graduated Summa Cum Laude with a Bachelor of Science in Biology from Liberty University in Virginia, was an Academic All-American and inducted into the Liberty University Women’s Basketball Hall of Fame after 4 successful years with LU Division 1 women’s basketball team finishing 21st in the nation and advancing to the NCAA Sweet 16 tournament. 2001, Zane Trace graduate.
Professional and Community Memberships
Dr. Bechtold is a member of The Ohio Veterinary Medical Association and The American Veterinary Medical Association, the Veterinary Information Network, The Ohio State Veterinary Alumni Association, and she and her husband David attend Jersey Baptist Church in Pataskala, Ohio.
Family and Pet Owner
Dr. Bechtold is married to David who is in pharmaceuticals in Columbus, Ohio. Prior, David played professional baseball as a left handed pitcher in the Colorado Rockies minor league after being drafted from the Liberty University baseball team after graduation in 2005. The couple met their first year of college and married in 2007. They are the parents of Dawson, born February 22, 2011. Dr. Bechtold has a black Lab mix named Juliet, a Vizsla named Clark and a Calico cat named Patches.
Her Hobbies and Interests
These include reading, working out, going on walks, and spending time with her family and friends.