Meet The Team
Dr. Kelly Trichel Hudspeth, DVM
Dr. Kelly has always followed her heart—and it’s led her on a remarkable journey of service, passion, and lifelong learning. After graduating from Harrisonburg High School, she earned her first degree in Education from Louisiana Tech University in 1981. She spent the next five years teaching English and social studies, while also coaching basketball—a role that honed her leadership and deepened her connection to her community.
But she always had a calling to veterinary medicine and so she decided to pursue it wholeheartedly. While working as Campus Activities Director at LSUA, she completed her pre-requisite coursework and was accepted to the LSU School of Veterinary Medicine in 1988. She graduated in 1992 and immediately opened her own practice, beginning what would become a lifelong mission of caring for
animals and the people who love them.
In 1993, she married her sweetheart, and soon after became a proud mother to two daughters, born in 1994 and 1997. Over the years, Dr. Kelly has expanded her practice not just in size, but in scope—incorporating advanced therapies like hyperbaric treatment, BioSET, and acupuncture. In 2023, she opened a satellite clinic in Jena to better serve her community.​
Dr. Kelly is guided by a simple but powerful principle, quoting Confucius: "If you do what you love, you'll never work a day in your life." For her, veterinary medicine isn’t just a profession—it’s a calling, and she feels honored to walk alongside pets and their families through every stage of life.
Cruze
Emotional Support Staff
One summer morning, we heard barking outside the clinic—and that bark changed everything. Cruze had been left in one of our horse stalls in the heat with no water, badly injured and scared. She had been hit by a car, leaving her back legs deformed, and had also survived being shot between the eyes. A large fish bone was even lodged between her skin and skull. Despite everything, she fought to survive.
At first, Cruze was timid, but over time, she began to trust us. We treated her injuries, spayed her, and got her healthy. With her new wheelchair, she took off—full of life and determination. Eventually, we amputated one of her damaged legs, and now she gets around just fine on her two and a half legs—no wheels needed!
Rehabbing Cruze took time, but along the way, she stole all our hearts. Today, she’s a beloved member of the Catahoula Vet Clinic family—a true survivor and a reminder of why we do what we do.
