Our Story

Family-Owned

Spanish-Speaking

Advanced Medicine

Family-Owned | Spanish-Speaking | Advanced Medicine

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The Bethany Story

  • Berni and Russell Schelkopf grew up in rural Nebraska. They married while Russell completed his Doctorate of Veterinary Medicine at Iowa State University, graduating in 1958.
  • Upon graduation, the Schelkopfs moved to Elburn, Illinois, and purchased Haxby Veterinary Clinic on Route 64 in Sycamore in 1959.
  • From 1959 to 1979, the clinic was known as Schelkopf Veterinary Clinic and was located on Route 64 in Sycamore.
  • When Russell and Berni's son, Michael, earned his Doctorate of Veterinary Medicine in 1978, he and his vet school classmate and future wife, Deborah, joined the practice. They relocated the clinic to Bethany Road, where it remains today, and renamed it Bethany Animal Hospital in 1979.
  • Michael's brother, Charlie, joined Bethany as a veterinarian in 1981.
  • At that time, the clinic served both companion animals and livestock. Deborah focused on companion animal medicine, while Mike and Charlie primarily cared for livestock.
  • The hard work and dedication of Berni, Russell, Mike, Charlie, and Deborah helped build Bethany into the family practice and community cornerstone it is today.
  • Bethany's longest current employees include Dawn Felix (60 years), Dr. Carlos Dominguez (26 years), Dr. LeAnn Gruber (25 years), Erin Murphy (25 years), and Jodie Jeskie (18 years).
Long, tan stucco building with arched doorways and a dark roof in a sandy lot.
Small roadside building with a dark roof, parked cars, and a wintery sky in front.
Empty waiting room with patterned carpet, wooden benches, and a central brochure stand with flowers.
Veterinarians examining a cat on an x-ray table under a ceiling-mounted imaging device
Person loading a blue pickup truck with white boxes beside a peach building at dusk
Person leaning over a kitchen counter using a microscope beside a sink and cabinets.
Black-and-white notice announcing Schelkopf Veterinary Clinic is moving to Bethany Animal Hospital and new hours are listed
Black-and-white newspaper clipping with two portrait photos and article text about Syracuse veterinarians Debra Valentine and Michael Sehlhoff
Black-and-white poster for Conro Builders' open house at Bethany Animal Hospital, Sept. 30, 1-4 p.m.
Black-and-white newspaper clipping with portrait of Charles Schelkopf and article text about Bethany Animal Hospital.