Houston Veterinarian Dr. Pelton
Dr. Steve Pelton is a General Practitioner and the owner of Hearthstone Animal Clinic since August of 2007.
Dr. Pelton was born in Churchville Chili, New York, and moved to Kingwood, Texas, when his father was transferred for work. It was during his time in New York that the saving of one pet and the loss of another influenced his decision to pursue a career as a veterinarian.
His home in western New York was surrounded by open fields, woods and farmland, which Dr. Pelton enjoyed roaming with his young and curious Irish Setter. During one late night walk on a very cold snowy night, his Irish setter took off running. Dr. Pelton was only about seven or eight at the time and when he finally found his dog, there was an older black Lab curled up in the snow, barely alive. With his father’s help, the two wheeled the dog to their home and then on to a local veterinarian. After a lot of care, the poor dog recovered and his owner was found. That dog went on to live many more great years.
“However, a year later we lost our Irish setter to a rare type of kidney cancer,” Dr. Pelton says. “He was only 4 years old and the loss hit me very hard at the time. These two experiences really were defining moments that led me to recognize I wanted to spend my life caring for animals.”
Dr. Pelton attended Texas A&M University where he received the Dean’s Award for Biomedical Science all four years of his undergraduate education. In 1996, he earned Bachelor of Science degrees for both Biomedical Science with an advanced Biotechnology option and Veterinary Science. Later that same year, he enrolled in Texas A&M’s College of Veterinary Medicine where he graduated Cum Laude after earning his Doctorate of Veterinary Medicine in 2000.
Though a General Practitioner, Dr. Pelton has a few areas of particular professional interest, including internal medicine, soft tissue surgery and dermatology. Dr. Pelton is also a member of the American Veterinary Medical Association, Texas Veterinary Medical Association, and the Harris County Veterinary Association.
Dr. Pelton and his wife Amanda, have two young daughters, Kylie Addison Pelton, born November 12, 2009, and Kynlee Kathleen Pelton born July 15th, 2013.
At home, Dr. Pelton has a number of pets. Ava is a Rhodesian ridgeback that he purchased after the death of his beloved White Lab named Callie. Ava comes from a very distinguished line of champion ridgebacks that have excelled in shows for obedience and agility.
"Abby" is a black lab, english spaniel mix that was rescued from under a bayou bridge as a very young puppy.
Osiris is a purebred Ragdoll cat. "A client at my old practice came in one day with two little Ragdoll kittens and I fell in love with them," he says. "So, later that week I found a breeder and got Osiris."
Stoli is a cat that Dr. Pelton rescued after a client had found him as a kitten in a ditch one cold rainy day. Stoli had been hit by a car and his front legs were mangled and broken, but otherwise he seemed okay. Dr. Pelton decided to provide care for the kitten and provide a temporary home for him. “That was three years ago, so I am pretty sure he is our cat now,” he says.
Dr. Pelton’s interests include running, working out, golf, and doing as much as possible with his daughters.
Pets lost, but not forgotten:
"Callie" - August 1993 - March 2007
"Zeta" - August 1999 - January 2012
"Holly" - Adopted 2005 - March 2011
"Ebony" - Adopted 2001 - March 2011
"Calvin" - Rescued on side of road August 2011- Died January 2012 (Rare fungal infection)