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There’s a new vet in town

Rio Cucharas Veterinary Clinic under new ownership as of February 1

by Bob Kennemer

WALSENBURG — Dr. John Davis and his wife Patti have run the Rio Cucharas Veterinary Clinic for more than 30 years. Tending to both small and large animals, the Davis’ have very likely touched the lives of thousands of area residents, their pets and livestock. Now it is the Davis’ turn to be taken care as they move into retirement. Fortunately, the clinic will remain open and will continue to provide quality care for all of our critters, with a renewed focus on large animals.

The Rio Cucharas Veterinary Clinic was recently sold to Rosemary Nicoletta (above with her two sons in front of the clinic). Nicoletta has extensive training in large animals and food animal work e.g. cattle, sheep, pigs and chickens. She plans to refocus the clinic on large animals including horses. Of course, the clinic will still treat small animals. Nicoletta, along with her husband and two sons, moved to Huerfano County from Elbert, Colorado and now reside near La Veta. Photo by Bob Kennemer.

Enter Rosemary Nicoletta. Born and raised in south Florida, Nicoletta went on to reside in Pennsylvania, Missouri, then Wyoming and ending up most recently in Elbert, Colorado south east of Denver. She is a graduate of the University of Missouri and did an internship in Wyoming in a mixed animal practice, which included beef cattle, performance horses, and rodeo horses along with ranch horses.

Nicoletta also lived for a while in the Washington, D.C. area, but after living in Wyoming she says, “I wanted to get back to the west. I fell in love with the Rockies!” With her husband Matthew, and two young sons who, like her, are “outdoor junkies,” Huerfano County seemed perfect. “We wanted to be in undiscovered Colorado. The northern front range is done in,” says Nicoletta.

“I’ve bow hunted with my dad. Also, my husband and I like to hike, hunt and ski,” notes Nicoletta. They both wanted to raise their sons in a small town, and grow small town roots. They now live near La Veta, with both boys enrolled in La Veta Schools. “We also wanted to have a good airport within two hours of where we ended up. Colorado Springs provides that,” said Nicoletta. Her husband has 13 years in the Airforce as a pilot flying the F-15 Strike Eagle jets. “He now flies a desk,” jokes Nicoletta, in that he can work from home in the aerospace industry.

With her family having a background in Thoroughbred breeding, Nicoletta has been riding since age three. “I like to contribute, helping someone else to make their living in ranching. My grassroots are in branding at ranches and doing team work because that is more efficient. It is rewarding to me doing food animal work like cattle, sheep, pigs and chickens. It is all I ever wanted to do,” concludes Nicoletta.

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