Skip to main content
College of Veterinary Medicine

McAfee Animal Hospital 75th Anniversary Marks Three Generations of Veterinary Care

July 27, 2018

McAfee Animal Hospital anniversary celebration pictured The McAfee Animal Hospital, which is associated with three generations of veterinarians, including two Purdue graduates, held a grand 75th anniversary Open House and celebration July 21 in Vaparaiso, Ind.

Dr. Larry McAfee pictured

Dr. Larry McAfee (PU DVM ’73) recounted the history of the practice, which was started by his father, Dr. John McAfee.

Saturday, July 21, was a very special day for Dr. Larry McAfee (PU DVM ’73) and his daughter Brooke (PU DVM 2011), as they celebrated the 75th anniversary of the McAfee Animal Hospital with an Open House event on the facility grounds.  Brooke represents the third generation of McAfee veterinarians.

Located in Valparaiso, Ind., the McAfee Animal Hospital was started by Larry’s father, John. A graduate of Michigan State University’s College of Veterinary Medicine, Dr. John McAfee passed the enterprise along to Larry, a member of the Purdue DVM Class of 1973, who recently has passed it along to Brooke, a 2011 Purdue DVM graduate. Purdue decorations were prominent, as today, every veterinarian that works for the McAfee Animal Hospital is a Purdue graduate.

Brooke McAfee pictured

Dr. Brooke McAfee (PU DVM 2011) represents the third generation of McAfee veterinarians to work at the practice founded by her grandfather.

Among the visiting dignitaries at the anniversary was Purdue Veterinary Medicine Dean Willie Reed, who welcomed the crowd at the celebration, and thanked Larry for his support of the College.  The hospital’s 75th anniversary celebration also featured remarks by Dr. Bret Marsh (PU DVM ’84), Indiana State Veterinarian, who thanked Larry and the clinic for their good service to the community and the state. Additionally, Valparaiso Mayor Jon Costas expressed appreciation to Larry for his service to the community and for the way the hospital provides veterinary care that gives such comfort to the city’s residents.

A large cake shaped like a paw print, decorated with colorful sprinkles and a small plush figure.The event also included participation by local businesses and food vendors that had tables featuring information, giveaways, and activities.  Exotic animals also were present as was the Valparaiso Police K-9 unit that gave demonstrations.  In addition, guests were able to take hospital tours that showcased the facility and the various procedures and treatments offered.  PVM was represented at the celebration as well with an informational table promoting the College and its programs.

Congratulations to the McAfee Animal Hospital for 75 great years!  Click here for more information and to view photos from the website Valpolife.com.

Writer(s): Tanya Finkbiner, Rachel Nellett, PVM Communications Intern | pvmnews@purdue.edu

Recent Stories

“Paws Up” for Jennifer Danaher – brought to you by the PVM Wellness Committee

This week we express our gratitude to Jennifer Danaher, who is department secretary for Veterinary Clinical Sciences.

‘Purdue Pursuits’: A PVM angle on Purdue’s teaching and learning reading groups

Crafting meaningful and engaging course experiences has been at the top of Dielson Vieira’s mind ever since he joined the Purdue University College of Veterinary Medicine’s faculty in 2024. As a clinical assistant professor in the Department of Basic Medical Sciences, Vieira is already adept at applying innovative teaching practices to classroom environments, but that doesn’t stop him from seeking out new ideas, approaches and perspectives — insights he gains through outlets like Purdue’s teaching and learning reading groups.

Top tier biology journal publishes PVM study that unlocks secrets of a drug-resistant fungal pathogen, which causes serious infections in humans

Though the name “Candida auris” is far from a household term, public health experts know it well because the multi-drug-resistant fungal pathogen, which causes serious human infections, has been classified as an urgent threat by the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) Antibiotic Threats Report (2019). Dr. Shankar Thangamani, Associate Professor of Microbiology and University Faculty Scholar in the Purdue University College of Veterinary Medicine’s Department of Comparative Pathobiology, is researching C. auris, aided by a 2.4 million grant from the National Institutes of Health (NIH). New research findings, just published in Nature Microbiology, show how C. auris adapts and evades the immune system.

In Print: ‘Translational Research Methods for Tauopathies’

A just-published 300-page volume edited by Jessica Fortin, Purdue assistant professor in the College of Veterinary Medicine’s Department of Basic Medical Sciences, provides a significant new resource for researchers studying a group of neurodegenerative diseases known as tauopathies. “Translational Research Methods for Tauopathies” provides detailed protocols intentionally selected to serve as a basis for research laboratories seeking to further treatments for such debilitating neurodegenerative diseases as Alzheimer’s and chronic traumatic encephalopathy (CTE).

It’s Almost Here!

Though the annual Purdue Veterinary Conference is almost upon us, there’s still time to register and take advantage of this time-honored College of Veterinary Medicine fall tradition that combines excellent continuing education with fun opportunities for reconnecting with colleagues and classmates, networking, and learning about the latest veterinary trends and products. The 2026 Purdue Veterinary Conference takes place September 23–26 on the Purdue University campus. The annual event has something for everyone, from veterinarians to veterinary technicians, faculty, staff and students.