Originally an “Army brat”, Dr Howard has lived in a number of places.  Contact with Veterinary Medicine came though his mom, who worked 20 years as a tech/receptionist in a mixed animal practice in central Washington State.  Coming to California in 1970 for most of his 6 years in Navy electronics, he graduated from Fresno State with a degree in Microbiology.  He worked at the Immunology Research Lab at Valley Children’s Hospital, Fresno, and also both as a veterinary technician and zoo keeper for several years before attending UC Davis Veterinary School, graduating in 1983.  After graduation, he practiced in Walnut Creek for about 5 years, then went to a solo practice in Napa for a year (he eventually figured out it was better, for the sake of sanity, to be in a group practice).   Coming into the Animal Care Center with Dr. Barnes in 1989, after Dr Jack Douglas retired, he became a partner about a year later.  Both doctors were glad that he settled in Vacaville.  Going on to join Rotary, Friends of the Dixon Mayfair, Odd Fellows, and Solano ACAC among other things, Dr Howard has worked in many community events.  Dr Howard also maintains memberships in NSVMA, CVMA, AVMA, and AAHA