By Matthew McCully – Coaticook veterinarian Jim Porter just couldn’t piece together why so many people were hanging out in a big tent on the Hatley Common when he drove through town on Sunday. “It was a beautiful day for making hay,” he thought, so it had to be of some importance to keep people out of the field. “It was Father’s Day,” he added. Porter thought maybe there was a garage sale or an auction happening. When he rounded the Common and saw the person he thought he was on his way to meet, along with colleagues from his clinic, he put two and two together. “I was very surprised,” Porter said.
A surprise retirement party had been organized for Porter, to celebrate his 36 years of helping animals big and small in the area. “It was pretty emotional,” Porter said, “I still can’t get over it.” A number of Porter’s colleagues attended the party, as well as friends and family, and several clients whose animals he has helped over the years. A few musical members of Porter’s family provided the entertainment for the party, and even wrote a special song for the well-known vet. See full story in the Thursday, June 20 edition of The Record.
Local animal doc retires with heartwarming surprise farewell
