FLINT, Texas — Dr. Paul Gainer, a generational avian veterinarian and orthopedic surgeon at the Flint Veterinarian Clinic, is hanging up his coat.
"I'm happy. It's been a good great practice, good long duration and fortunate to be able to practice 40 years here in Flint taking care of this client base," Gainer said.
It’s a retirement that has been a long time coming. After four decades working in the industry, Gainer said it’s time to pass the torch.
"Energy wears down, memory starts to slip. It's kind of like milk, it goes bad in the fridge after a while," Gainer said.
Gainer said what he will miss most is working alongside his partner Michael Dixon and his great staff, along with the relationships he’s built with the community and their pets.
"So there comes a time after I'm 67. So I'm thinking there's a lot of smarter, better younger doctors that are practicing here right now, that can fill in any gap that I leave. So I'm happily turning it over to a very capable crew," Gainer said. "(I've) done a lot of good for a lot of people, (I've) made a difference in some people's lives."
Gainer had a big impact on his customers and their pets.
"We brought all the animals so he's been responsible for taking care of our crew now totally and to be honest with you. We just love him, just love him. He's part of our family," a longtime customer Albert Elrod said.
"I'm very happy for him because it's totally deserving of his retirement. But we will miss him because he is a great person to work with. It's just gonna be different," customer service rep Maggie Crow said.
As for post-retirement plans, Gainer said he will be spending his time with grandchildren and at the golf course working on his swing.
"I'm a very bad golfer. And I'm going to go out and continue to be a very bad golfer. And I'm going to read more and I'm going to sleep more," Gainer said.
Gainer said he is happy with the time he’s spent at the Flint Vet Clinic and has no remorse for his decisions today or in his career.
"I have no regrets about the duration or the fact that it's coming to an end," Gainer said.