Cats, Cows, and Elephants, Oh My!

How Robin Roberts Build Animal General

Words by Thomas Ingle | Image by Ryan McGill

Robin Roberts is a dedicated farm-raised veterinarian who takes pride in his ability to care for both common household pets and larger farm animals in Walker County.

Roberts' upbringing on a beef cattle farm in Jasper, Alabama, immersed him in the world of animals and animal husbandry from an early age. He attended Curry High School, graduating in 1982, and completed his education at Walker College in 1984. He furthered his studies at Auburn University, obtaining degrees in Animal Science in 1987 and Agronomy in 1988.

After completing his education, Roberts gained valuable experience working for Dr. Douglas Shaver in Tuscaloosa for two years. He then returned to Jasper and spent six years in Ambulatory Practice before taking a significant step in 2000, establishing his own veterinary practice, Animal General.

Dr. Roberts recalls the challenging initial years of operation, "We had trouble getting phone service. We went ahead and opened up, and by the second month, they shut down the road in front of me on 69 North, and it was closed for the next eighteen months."

"The first fifteen years, we were six to seven days a week, twenty-four hours a day, just building the practice," he adds.

Despite the setbacks and long hours of the early years, Animal General flourished and continues to do so today, serving a diverse clientele of large and small animals. It remains the sole establishment in Walker County where one can seek care for larger animals like horses and cows. And while they aren't the office's typical clientele, Dr. Roberts has also served some exotic animals.

"I did once have a successful incident with an elephant," he chuckles, providing no further detail but leaving copious room for the imagination to run wild.

Now residing on the same beef cattle farm where he grew up, Roberts continues to care for over 20 long-horn cattle, considering them as more than just livestock, but members of the family, as he does all the animals he cares for. He shares this tranquil farm life with his wife, Carmen, whom he met at Walker College.

In its 24th year in Jasper, Animal General has become a community cornerstone for animal care. Whether it's a feline companion or a farm-dwelling cow, Animal General is the go-to place because, for Dr. Robin Roberts, caring for every animal, whether a household pet or part of a farm, is not just a transaction; it is caring for a family member. 78