Veterinarian Overview
Every animal has a story to tell and discovering those stories is what one of the things Dr. Oakes likes best about his job, a job he enjoys as much today as he did when he first opened the Diamond Lake Animal Hospital over 30 years agoDr. Oakes feels lucky to have spent his entire career pursuing his lifelong passion of caring for animals.Every animal has its own story, says Dr. Oakes. Even the most mundane becomes interesting when you take into account the relationship between the animal and his or her owner.Never far from Dr. Oakes side, both at home and at work is his dog Tucker. Dr. Oakes also has two stay-at-home cats, Jack and Maybe, a stray that he brought home one Labor Day weekend saying, Maybe well keep her, maybe we wont., obviously they didDr. Oakes was raised in and has lived most of his life in Southwest Minneapolis. He earned his Bachelor of Science and Doctor of Veterinary Medicine degrees from the University of Minnesota, graduating in 1980. Eager to start his own practice, he opened Diamond Lake Animal Hospital in the spring of 1983. He has proudly served the fine pets of Minneapolis ever since. Dr. Oakes lives within minutes of the clinic with his wife Pat, a long-time Minneapolis public school teacher. They have three adult children: Krista, Kelsey and Jeff, who live in Minneapolis. All three are following the same paths of their parents. Krista taught school when her family lived in New York, Kelsey is a Minneapolis Public School teacher and Jeff is in the U of M Veterinary School.
