A Child's Dream Come True: Meet Dr. Hanby of Capeside Animal Hospital
By Marybeth G. Cale
Every
child has a dream of what their future might hold—where they will live, what they will do for a living. Most of those dreams fall away, giving birth to new ones. But for young Sheila Hanby, the dream of becoming a veterinarian, detailed in every one of her childhood journals, became a vision, and, eventually, that vision became a beautiful reality.Born and raised in Wilmington, Sheila Hanby, DVM, says she always knew that caring for animals was what she was meant to do.
"As far back as I can remember, I just knew I had to become a vet," she reflects thoughtfully. After graduating from Hoggard High School, Hanby completed a Bachelor of Arts degree in Chemistry at UNCW and then traveled on to N.C. State University to study veterinary medicine.
"Naturally, just like every young person, I couldn’t wait to leave my home state and find new adventures elsewhere," says Hanby. She moved to Florida, setting her sights on significant business endeavors, seeking excitement and risk far away from the comfort of home.
Sometimes, though, "home" has a way of luring one back, bringing things full circle. So it’s no surprise that "it just felt so right to move back," Hanby says, "when, by happenstance, I received an offer to work in Wilmington."
Another layer to her dream quickly revealed itself shortly after her homecoming—that of opening her own animal hospital.
"I had been watching Brunswick County grow and felt it was a great time to jump in," Hanby explains.
The opening of the very unique and popular Capeside Animal Hospital, located at The Waterford Shoppes in Leland, marked the pinnacle experience (so far) in her life. The hospital marries all aspects of her dream—practicing veterinary medicine, living near the shoreline of southeastern North Carolina and immersing herself in what has become a vibrant, diverse community of people who represent the many subcultures of our country.
"Because my mother was originally from Spain, I traveled there frequently with my family in the summer months," Hanby says. "I learned the language and culture of my extended family and ancestors and it gave me a real appreciation for the many things people from other places can bring to the table. It’s amazing how Brunswick County has grown and changed, attracting people from all parts of the United States to come and make it home. We can all learn from the different people who live here, just as I learned from the people I spent time with in Spain. I love that my clients represent so many different places and share their varied stories with me—it keeps things interesting."
That appreciation for people is at the heart of her work. Though caring for animals is the obvious focus for a veterinarian, Hanby feels that being a "people person" is also critical to success in the field.
"Every animal who comes through my doors is accompanied by a person," Hanby says with gentleness in her voice. By taking care of the animals, she says she is also making valuable differences in the lives of those people. "It’s so rewarding," Hanby says.
The physical ambience of Capeside Animal Hospital clearly portrays her values-based approach to her work. Hanby has created a spa-like atmosphere designed to make the animals—and their families—comfortable. The cozy environment is a direct reflection of Hanby’s commitment to treating each animal like her own with an honest, ethical, hometown approach underlined by superior professionalism.
Hanby has also added another segment to her work—Furever Friends, an animal rescue group established by Capeside Animal Hospital to help injured, abandoned and homeless animals. Hanby’s desire to create a venue for this purpose comes from a charitable spirit that is evidenced through her work with a wide array of philanthropic efforts throughout her career.
Above and beyond her work with community organizations, Hanby has adopted her own family of rescue animals. Jack, formerly known at an emergency clinic as "Lucky No. 13," is a Dalmatian that Hanby treated for a severe intestinal virus. The family who had brought him to the clinic was unable to afford the very expensive treatments needed to save him and wanted to put him down. When Hanby saw his friendly tail-wagging, she was reminded of her childhood pet, a Dalmatian, and immediately felt compelled to adopt him.
Her other dog, Olivia, was found on the side of the road and came to Hanby for rescue treatment. Heavy medications saved her life, and Hanby brought her home. Though Olivia is not 100 percent Dalmatian, she has some of the breed in her.
"The spots saved her life," Hanby giggles. "I love Dalmatians and I just had to help her heal and bring her into my home."
In addition to Jack and Olivia, Hanby’s personal life also includes a cat, Burt Reynolds. Why? "Because when he was brought to me by Animal Control, he had a very severe wound which left visible scar tissue on his left eye. I just thought it would be appropriate to name him after a male celebrity who has had lots of plastic surgery," she explains with laughter.
Between the hospital, her charitable work and her own family of animals, Hanby says she has very little free time. When asked how she balances everything, she credits her staff. "They are wonderful," she says. "Without them, my doors wouldn’t open every morning. They are incredibly caring and I am very lucky."
Hanby also expresses feelings of great gratitude for her family. She says that the best thing about living here is the proximity to her parents, John and Ana Hanby of Wilmington, and her brother, who lives in Charlotte. "They have been an amazing support system to me," she says.
Hanby’s network of support will inevitably celebrate with her as her story continues to unfold. Her vision for Capeside Animal Hospital is to have a free-standing building, to offer more services, such as luxury boarding condos, and to make the practice more comfortable and accessible. She is also doing groundwork now to establish Furever Friends as an official 501c3 organization with its own board of directors. On a personal note, she hopes that she might travel to Third World countries at some point to care for animals in clinics there.
No matter what her future may hold, you can be sure that the original dream and vision of the young Sheila Hanby will be woven into everything she does. She is living proof that, with hard work and vision, the dreams of children can come true.
Opinions in the magazine are those of the authors and do not necessarily represent management views.