They call him “Dr. Felix the Vet”

He loves animals and he keeps them happy, healthy and strong. Pet lovers adore him.

By Marisse G. Abelgas

A friend once called him in the middle of the night to ask what he could take for a bum stomach. “Try Zantac,” he said sleepily over the phone. Apparently, it worked. The friend called back a few hours later to say he was okay.

Once, a police officer stopped him on the road for trying to beat a red light. He explained that he was on his way to an emergency. “Are you a doctor?” the policeman asked. “I’m a veterinarian,” he replied. “Oh, okay, go ahead sir,” the policeman said respectfully as he let him go.

At his Orange County clinic, he deals with patients who can’t talk, can’t express their feelings in a language most people understand, can’t say what’s ailing them, and worse, are completely clueless as to what they’re doing in his clinic in the first place. But they leave his clinic happy, healthy and strong.

He counsels the people who bring the patients in, and tells them the do’s and don’ts of health care, including health plans and health insurance...for pets.

The legendary actor Will Rogers describes people like him as “the best doctor in the world...he can’t ask his patients what’s the matter... he’s just got to know.”

His clients affectionately call him Dr. Felix the Vet (after the popular, lovable cartoon character Felix the Cat), and for Dr. Felix P. Lapuz, D.V.M., M.P.V.M, being a doctor of veterinary medicine has been a most rewarding profession. In fact, he tells his friends to encourage their college-bound kids to consider a career in veterinary medicine, “because there’s a great future for them out there.”

He should know. Over the past few years -- through his practice and his clinic, Pet Care Centers of America, Inc. in the City of Orange --he has made millions of dollars catering to the likes of Felix the Cat. This, despite the presence of big commercial pet stores which operate within close proximity to his own clinic.

Lapuz estimates that pet owners spend from $400 to $5,000 a year for pet care alone. “ About 75 percent of my clients are Caucasians,” he says, “while 15 percent are Hispanic and 10 percent are Asian.”

He explains the disparity: “Caucasians are more affectionate towards animals, they can afford pet care and are willing to spend that much because they regard their pets as life companions. They demand only the best for their pets.” Half jokingly, he says, “I would love to be reincarnated as a dog...owned by a Caucasian like Elizabeth Taylor.”

He adds that “Asians and Hispanics, on the other hand, generally have big families and companionship is not much of a problem. Others work double jobs and are therefore hesitant to care for pets if they have to be left alone in the house all day.”

However, he sees a change coming on, in “a new generation that’s getting more attached to pets.” “Kids, even those from Hispanic and Asian families, are now getting into pets,” he says. He is also building a bigger Filipino clientele base, with some coming from as far as Upland and Los Angeles.

Dr. Lapuz -- who has two dogs, two cats and three birds of his own -- says that dogs, cats and birds seem to be the most popular pets, regardless of the owners’ race or ethnic origin. He keeps two caged talking birds in his clinic’s reception area, and one -- a colorful parrot --greets clients a cheery “good morning” as they walk through the door, no matter what time of day it is.

“Children prefer toy dogs like the chihuahua. The market value of this breed went up 30 percent because of the Taco Bell commercial. A chihuahua now sells from $600 to $1,000,” he says.

For people who wish to take care of dogs, Dr. Lapuz advises them to buy puppies from reputable breeders or adopt from animal shelters. He also adds that mixed breeds are oftentimes better than purebreds because they have “more resistance to diseases.”

He offers some more do’s and don’ts: If you’re not into breeding animals and simply want to keep them as pets, dogs and cats should be neutered at eight to 10 months or older, and spayed from six to eight months or older. Avoid giving dogs pork or beef (too fatty) and instead give them chicken or turkey. He cautions against giving them bones (especially chicken bones) since these can splinter inside the animal’s stomach. Chocolates are a big no-no, because a certain chemical in chocolates can be fatal to dogs. Oh, and onions cause bad breath, so you might want your dog to stay away from onion rings too, no matter how enticing it may be for both you and your pet. And of course, make sure they are vaccinated against every possible disease, de-wormed, protected against fleas, and groomed regularly.

Grooming, an essential part of pet care and maintenance, includes dental care, hair shampooing, nail trimming, the works. Weight Control and weight loss is another aspect of pet maintenance that the doctor emphasizes in order to keep animals healthy. More often than not, he observes, the diet of a pet reflects his owner’s lifestyle.

In his Orange County Pet Hospital, there are separate rooms for routine examinations, surgery, laboratory, dental services and grooming services. There’s also a board and lodging area where pets are taken care of while their mommies and daddies are away on vacation. A “condominium” houses “vacationing”cats while dogs lounge in separate kennels in another room. Two or three times a day, they are taken outside for walks and exercise by Lapuz’ staff who are certified aides.

Dr. Lapuz, who comes from a family of veterinarians and other medical professionals, says it’s not that easy to get a degree in veterinary medicine, much less a license to practice the profession in the United States. It takes eight years of higher education (college), plus one year of internship. After all those years of study, one still has to hurdle the board exam in order to get a license and finally become legit. Using “humans as reference,” students need to take such courses as comparative anatomy and pathology.

Lapuz, who earned his Master’s degree in Preventive Veterinary Medicine (emphasis in Epidemiology and Statistics) at UC Davis, has the distinct achievement of having been the youngest applicant to pass the U.S. National and State Veterinary Board Examination -- on his first try. “Most people don’t pass the board exam on their first attempt. And many of those who don’t pass, just give up and go on to pursue a career in other fields of medicine,” he reveals.

He lives by a philosophy of preventive approach to pet care, emphasizing routine physical check-ups and proper maintenance, and educating pet owners on how to prevent problems themselves. “It’s good for the pets, and it saves my clients time and money,” he says.

His one-stop pet store on Katella Ave. in the City of Orange provides all-encompassing services such as low-cost vaccinations, dental work, surgery, dermatological treatment, radiology, internal medicine, and low-cost neutering and spaying. The store also carries different brands of nutritious food, grooming aids and pet accessories.

In 1981, Lapuz founded the Dr. Felix Pet Care HMO which greatly reduced the cost of pet care and made it more affordable to more people. He is also the one of the co-founders and shareholder of Veterinary Pet Insurance (along with Jack L. Stephens, DVM), so pets could have adequate protection for unforeseen medical problems, and their owners, financial assistance. Both ventures, he believes, have dramatically increased the quality and level of medical treatment for a greater number of pets. But he is also disappointed at the way many “copycat” programs have emerged, including those being marketed by big commercial pet stores.

Disappointments notwithstanding, he is all set to embark on another project, the patent for which is still pending. Dubbed “Felix the VET,” it will carry his own brand of pet products. He is also set to launch a magazine exlusively about pets and pet care.

Although Lapuz’s life seems to be centered on the care of animals, he is nevertheless very much involved in civic activities, aside from being an all-around entrepreneur. He is the founder and president of the Dr. Felix Foundation for Animal and Child Abuse Prevention; does volunteer work at the Olive Crest for Abused and Abandoned Children of Orange County; contributes regularly to the Habitat for Humanity(housing program) for Orange County and the American Red Cross of Orange County. Recently he established the Dr. Felix the Vet Foundation Inc. and the F.P.L .Foundation Phil., which aims “to help underpoverished students of any Pampagueño (Philippine) descent, from first to fourth year high school.” The foundation has also donated computers to schools in the Philippines.

In the world of business, Dr. Lapuz has also undoubtedly made his mark. He is a charter member of the Fil-Am Chamber of Commerce of Orange County, the Phil-Am Business Network of Southern California, the Asian Business Association of Orange County and the Southern California Filipino Veterinary Association where he serves either as member of the board of directors or board of governors. His Pet Care Centers of America Inc. is one of the most successful businesses in Orange County; he dabbles in real estate; has published a family-oriented magazine called Orient’s Gateway and an entertainment publication called Amerasian Entertainment; and served as president of the Philippine Press Club of America, an association of Filipino-American newspapermen in Southern California. During his leisure time, he goes ballroom dancing, and joins ballroom dancing competitions as well. His interests range from golf and boating to billiards and chess, and he is an avid follower of current events, especially politics.

What else is there in the world of Dr. Felix the Vet?

Known in the community for his compassion, and as a man with “a heart big enough for just about everyone,” the doctor says: “I plan to become more actively involved in community service. I’ve been taking care of animals for years. I want to help more people, especially children now too.”