Online voters have selected Las Vegas veterinarian Dennis Arn, DVM, as the winner of the My Vet’s the Best contest sponsored by Pets Best Insurance. Dr. Arn, who runs the nine-doctor Desert Inn Animal Hospital, received more than 45 percent of the votes cast by thousands of people through the Pets Best website and the company’s Facebook page, the insurer reported today. Arn was among hundreds of veterinarians nominated for the quarterly award, which Pets Best created to honor practitioners who go above and beyond to keep animals healthy. His name was submitted by a client who touted Arn’s use of stem cell therapy and his willingness to treat pets when their owners cannot afford procedures. Arn received $1,000 from Boise, Idaho-based Pets Best to treat animals in need. The pet owner who nominated him received $200. "We created the My Vet’s the Best contest to spotlight exceptional veterinarians who work tirelessly to keep pets healthy and promote the advancement of animal treatment,” said Jack Stephens, DVM, president and founder of Pets Best Insurance. "[Arn] has improved the lives of so many animals with his clinic’s advanced treatment methods. Beyond that, he is a true animal lover who has made sacrifices and waived payments throughout decades of healing families’ beloved animals.” Arn joined Desert Inn Animal Hospital after graduating from the University of Missouri College of Veterinary Medicine in 1977. He took over the practice in 1980 and later created the International Canine Semen Bank of Nevada within the hospital. The prize money will go to the clinic’s Little Angel Fund, which helps low-income pet owners pay for veterinary care. "We often see families who are torn because they can’t afford treatment for the pets they love,” Arn said. Pets Best began the contest in 2010 to recognize outstanding veterinarians. Arn and the next three quarterly winners will compete for the 2013 grand prize: a trip for two to the Western Veterinary Conference. <HOME>
