Dr. Emily Davis Bewley ’98 Named 2021 Kentucky Veterinarian of the Year

In January 2021, a dog was abandoned in the parking lot of the Kentucky Humane Society suffering from seizures, numerous lesions, and brain damage to his frontal lobe. His health was so miserable that Dr. Emily Bewley thought he was dead. After the second attempt to feed him though, he decided to eat, and Dr. Bewley hoped against the odds that he would be okay. Thanks to her exceptional care, that dog once thought near death began to thrive and was later named Ethan.    

Dr. Bewley, a shelter veterinarian at the Kentucky Humane Society, is a 1998 graduate of Assumption and has been with the Kentucky Humane Society for five years. During her time at Assumption, she participated in a co-op that allowed her to spend few days a week working at a veterinary office. This is where her love for animals grew.  

A graduate of the Purdue University Veterinary School, she’s now changing the lives of many animals and the humans in their lives through work that has gained her statewide and national recognition. Dr. Bewley was honored as the 2021 Kentucky Veterinarian of the Year at the Kentucky Veterinary Medical Association’s award luncheon. But she wasn’t the only one! Ethan and her staff were recognized as well. Ethan was inducted into the Animal Hall of Fame with a plaque that reads, “In recognition of an animal that exemplifies the affection, loyalty and value of the human/animal bond.”  

Dr. Bewley has some great career advice for current Assumption students.  “If you love art, go for it. If you love cooking, go for it. Whatever really sets your heart afire, follow that.” Dr. Bewley lives out the Mercy value of compassion day in and day out in her job, and we are so proud of her accomplishments. Currently, she is helping guide Travolta, another dog desperately in need of medical care, on his journey back to health.  To learn more about Travolta, visit the Kentucky Humane Society’s Facebook Page, and for behind-the-scenes information and fun, follow @DrBewley on TikTok!