Dr. Michael Forret grew up in rural Adel, Iowa. As a teenager, he began tagging along with the local veterinarian in Minburn, IA. He attended Iowa State University and graduated in 1982 with a degree in Microbiology. After working and doing graduate work at the National Animal Disease Center and National Animal Diagnostic Laboratory, he attended Iowa State University College of Veterinary Medicine and graduated in 1987. He worked in private practice in Chicago, IL before relocating to Des Moines and working at the city’s 24-hour animal emergency hospital. In 1994 he purchased Highland Park Animal Hospital. Dr. Forret resides in Ankeny with his wife and four cats [citation].