Dr. Peggy Rucker is the co-owner and Hospital Director of SVVS. She and her husband, Bayard, are both 1971 graduates of Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University with Bachelor of Science degrees in Animal Science; and, both are Magna Cum Laude graduates from the University of Georgia with Doctor of Veterinary Medicine degrees in 1975.

Dr Peggy is a Past President of the American Animal Hospital Association which is an international veterinary association of over 33,000 members whose goal is to provide excellence in small animal veterinary care. Members of AAHA voluntarily adhere to over 900 published standards which apply to all aspects of veterinary care including facility management, continuing education, medical care, as well as medical record evaluation. She also is one of the founders of the National Commission for the Study of Veterinary Economic Issues...a group dedicated to the improvement of the economic base of the veterinary profession. Dr. Peggy has also authored articles regarding the Human-Animal Bond and Animal Behavior that have appeared in national publications such as Family Circle Magazine and  Dog Fancy. In addition to her AAHA membership, Dr. Peggy is a member of the American Veterinary Medical Association, the Virginia Veterinary Medical Association, the American Association of Human-Animal Bond Veterinarians, and the American Veterinary Society of Animal Behavior.

Dr Peggy has been honored by the Virginia Veterinary Medical association with the Distinguished Service Award in 2000, and she received the National Distinguished Service Award from the American Association of Women Veterinarians in 2002.

Dr. Peggy has a special interests in Animal Behavior, the Human-Animal Bond, Ultrasound, and Veterinary Practice Management. She also is a member of a Professional Veterinary Management Group which helps provide her with the business managment expertise to help keep our hospital running smoothly and effeciently.

Best of Breed , Mason-Dixon Multi-Breed Dog Show

Much of Dr Peggy's spare time is devoted to her tenacious, yet beloved, Jack Russell Terriers. Dr Peggy and her husband, Dr Bayard, have shared their home with Jack Russell Terriers for the past twelve years. They started their terrier obsession with a wonderful JRT called Jordi. Jordi soon attached himself to Dr. Bayard and rode with him in the truck for over 8 years. Dr. Peggy then got her first JRT and immediately gave her heart and soul to a wonderful little terrier called Jeannie. Since owning Jack Russell Terriers is like having potato chips, you just can't have just one... the Ruckers got their third Jack Russell named Falling Branch Josey Wales in 1998...and the rest is history.  Even though Jordi and Jeannie are no longer with us, their legacy lives on as the Rucker household is now home to eleven JRTs, most of whom are related to their UKC Grand Champion J-Bird's Chasin' Jason, a very handsome and multi-talented Jack Russell Terrier who was ranked #4 Jack Russell Terrier in the country in 2005 for the second year in a row. In June 2006, Jason won the UKC Top Ten Championship in Kalamazoo, Michigan and became for the first time the number ONE Jack Russell Terrier in the country for 2006-2007.  Jason, along with his mother, brothers, sisters, aunt, son and daughters all make their home with Dr. Peggy and her husband, Dr. Bayard  Rucker, who is an equine practitioner and co-owner of SVVS. 

Dr. Peggy's registered kennel name is J-Bird Jacks...She will admit, however, that none of her dogs actually LIVE in a kennel. The fact is that most of her terriers sleep not just in the bed, but UNDER the covers! In addition to her dogs, she also has three retired show horses who share the small farm that she and  Dr.Bayard own here in Lebanon. 

J-BIRD'S CHASIN' JASON



You can e-mail Dr. Peggy Rucker at drpeg@svvspets.com.