| THE DOCTORS: |
| Dr. Scott Bennington |
|
Dr. Penny Bennington |
 Dr. Scott is a native
of Canton, Ohio. He received his Bachelor of Arts degree in Biology from Kenyon College in 1987 and his D.V.M.
degree from The Ohio State University in 1991. During vet school he pursued interests in surgery and cardiology
by taking elective classes and participating in extra surgical rotations. After graduation he worked as an associate
veterinarian in Austintown, Ohio for 2 years and in Burton, Ohio for 2 1/2 years. After leaving Burton he worked
as a relief veterinarian for communities surrounding Cleveland, which allowed him to experience many different
aproaches to veterinary medicine. While working in this capacity he began investigating options for practice ownership,
starting a search that began in northeast Ohio, led into and all the way across New York, and ultimately ended
in Maine. |
|
 Dr. Penny was born in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania,
and grew up in Salem, Ohio. She obtained her Bachelor of Science in Zoology and her D.V.M. degree from The Ohio
State University in 1992. During vet school she managed the veterinary college bookstore and studied under world-renowned
veterinary cardiologists. Her first job led her to Austintown, Ohio, where she met Dr. Scott and where they first
discovered the compatibility of their practice (and other!) philosophies. She moved to the Cleveland area after
a year in Austintown and worked at a pair of clinics in Northfield and Richmond Heights, Ohio, where she developed
her interest in pet behavior and training. When she and Dr. Scott began looking for a clinic to buy, her longstanding
desire to live in Maine helped direct their efforts. |
PRACTICE PHILOSOPHY:
Realizing the importance of animals in people's lives, the Benningtons believe in offering the best
medicine and surgery available to their clients with pets. In addition to their formal schooling, they are both
lifelong pet owners, and have been directly involved with veterinary medicine since high school. They regularly
attend continuing education classes and meetings to keep up with the latest developments, and have dedicated a
significant portion of their resources to acquiring and maintaining equipment that allows top-quality diagnostics.
For difficult cases they have access to veterinary specialists
locally, as well as nationwide through internet connections. They realize that not everyone will want to utilize
all of their resources, but they want to be sure to offer the best.
SPECIAL INTERESTS:
The Benningtons have a variety of special interests in veterinary medicine, some dating back to their
schooling, some developing more recently: |
| |
Dr. Scott's special interests include surgery, cardiology, and feline medicine.
At Ohio State, he took extra classes in cardiology and was fortunate enough to work closely with Dr. John Bonagura
and Dr. Robert Hamlin, both well-known veterinary cardiologists. He also participated in extra surgical rotations to get
exposure to as many surgical procedures as possible; one of his final relief jobs had him working with a surgical
specialist in Willoughby, Ohio. While working a summer position in Cincinnati he developed a secondary interest
in ophthalmology after spending some time with a veterinary ophthalmologist there.
More recently he has developed a strong interest in the human-animal bond and the contribution of pets
to overall well-being. He also has started to study some "alternative" medical therapies, especially
acupuncture and herbal medicine. As time allows, he hopes to learn more about these increasingly
mainstream additions to veterinary medicine. |
|
Dr. Penny's special interests include internal medicine and behavior. Like Dr. Scott,
in school she worked with Drs. Bonagura and Hamlin, as well as with Dr. Linda Lemkuhl, another respected veterinary
cardiologist. She participated directly in clinical studies involving treatment of Newfoundland dogs with aortic
stenosis (and ultimately adopted one of the study dogs); these studies gave her in-depth exposure to the possibilities
of ultrasound in veterinary medicine. Another area of interest, nutrition for general health as well
as for medical conditions, has led to familiarity with cutting-edge veterinary diets. Representatives from food
suppliers have given several seminars at the clinic to teach the staff the value of proper nutrition and the proper
use of specific diets.
While working around Cleveland, Dr. Penny also developed an interest in behavior issues and
general training. She is a strong advocate of proper training from an early age for prevention of later
problems. |
WORKING TOGETHER: |
Scott and Penny married in 1995, and quickly realized their shared desire to own a practice in order
to provide a superior level of pet health care. After a long process of determining the best way to work together
again (after Austintown), they discovered, early in 1998, a small animal clinic for sale in Augusta, Maine. More
than 5 months later, after multiple drives to Maine and back and untold sleepless nights, Scott and Penny bought
Companion Animal Clinic on August 21, 1998.
The Benningtons view their pets as family members, and take the same approach toward their clients'
pets. They strive to provide the best pet health care available, and hope to set a standard for veterinary care
in central Maine. |
OUR FAMILY ALBUM  |
HOBBIES AND OUTSIDE INTERESTS: |
| Dr. Scott's hobbies are numerous and include outdoor activities, music, and reading. He enjoys bicycling,
camping, archery, and canoeing (He and Dr. Penny were part of a Guinness record for the largest floating raft in
1995 in Ohio). In the winter he enjoys cross-country skiing. His musical listening tastes range
from ancient vocal styles to alternative, and he plays guitar, piano, lap dulcimer, and clarinet. He built his
lap dulcimer and a hammered dulcimer, and has a perpetual project (6 years now) of restoring a player piano. He also is learning to play hammered
dulcimer and occasionally struggles with his violin. He enjoys reading, with an emphasis on science fiction, military
history (He's dragged Dr. Penny to numerous historical sites, and visited Gettysburg for the 135th anniversary
reenactment of the battle there), philosophy and religion. He also writes short fiction and poetry. |
|
Dr. Penny also maintains several outside interests. She has a long exposure to graphic arts, and enjoys
knitting, quilting, and interior design. The interior of Companion Animal Clinic is beginning to reflect her tastes,
and many of the recent decorative touches were hers. She enjoys camping and canoeing with Dr. Scott (They camped
in a tent when they sat for their Maine State veterinary boards, and endured constant thunderstorms, falling trees,
and frost warnings - all in one week!). Recently she and Dr. Scott have started sailing - Dr. Scott does most of the actual sailing
while she and Emma monitor things from the cabin (Emma sleeps, quite soundly). She also has musical interests, playing flute and piano, and is learning
to play the cello. She also enjoys reading, primarily 19th and early 20th century literature and novels. She and Dr. Scott
maintain a small garden every year, and frequently can, freeze, or dehydrate what they grow. |
Links We Like
(links will open in a new browser window)
Extrasolar Planet Search
The History Channel
Library of Congress
 Lobster Cam!
Manned Spaceflight 
The Weather Channel
Weather in the Gulf of Maine
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