Alena Cowell, DVM

I’m originally from the Midwest, and moved to the gorgeous Pacific Northwest waaayyyy back in 1997, when I graduated from Purdue University’s School of Veterinary Medicine.

I started out doing small and large animal medicine in Oregon, but quickly learned that James Herriot made it look easy! My heart really belongs to dogs and cats, so I became a small animal-only vet when I moved to Washington.

Some of you longtime clients may remember me; I worked at Steamboat from 2001 to 2009, then was given the opportunity to be a part of the management team at Hawks Prairie Vet Hospital, where I worked until 2024.

As I’ve gotten older and hopefully wiser, I realized that my management role was taking me away from what I loved; simply being a vet. And I needed to slow down, take better care of myself and enjoy my life more, because life is short. These things are what prompted my decision to “semi-retire,”work less hours, and start the next chapter of my life.

So you’ll see me around Steamboat a few days a month, doing wellness exams.

On a personal note, I have two awesome kids who are now grown, and I am so proud of the adults they’ve become! And shoutout to Thurston County Dog 4-H, which was a huge part of our family’s lives! Can’t recommend 4-H enough!

Now that I have finally made the move to enjoy my life more, I have time for doing what I love: e-biking, kayaking and hiking with my awesome husband Steve and my friends, taking our dog on walks, and trying to keep our four cats from taking over the world!

I hope to meet you and your furry family members soon!

“One day your life will flash before your eyes. Make sure it’s worth watching.” Gerard Way