Although Dr. Rusty Barnett had entertained the idea of becoming a veterinarian ever since he was a young boy, he eventually chose another career path and pursued that for many years. After getting married, Dr. Barnett’s wife convinced him to go back to school to pursue his lifelong passion of animal care—he hasn’t looked back since!
Dr. Barnett was born and raised in McMinn County, where he still lives. He moved to Knoxville in 1987 to attend veterinary school, graduating in 1990 before launching his career in Madisonville. Dr. Barnett would eventually own and operate his very own veterinary clinic in Etowah, Tennessee for 20 years. In October of 2015, Dr. Barnett joined the Community Animal Hospital team and has been caring for Cleveland’s pets ever since.
Aside from his interests in the veterinary world, Dr. Barnett enjoys cheering on his favorite sports teams, golfing, and playing with his grandchildren. He and his wife have two sons and a daughter, as well as two wonderful grandchildren, and they share their home with a Miniature Schnauzer named Phoebe [citation].