Thank you, Dr. Hays & Dr. Levitt

We give our thanks to the veterinarians that have served us.

Dr. Hugh Hays

Dr. Hugh Hays founded Summertree Animal & Bird Clinic in 1980 and retired from general practice in March of 2018.

Dr. Hugh Hays felt a deep connection and love for animals ever since getting his first dog, Mister, when he was only five years old. As he worked through some health issues of his own throughout childhood, an interest in the medical field started to blossom. By the time he reached his teenage years, Dr. Hays' mind was made up: he would work to better the lives of pets by becoming a veterinarian!

Dr. Hays was still a teenager when he began working at a veterinary practice in Houston that treated exotic pets in addition to dogs and cats. Next, he attended Texas A&M University to earn his degree in veterinary medicine. After graduation, Dr. Hays had the unique opportunity to help open a practice for two Dallas-based veterinarians. The hospital would ultimately become Summertree Animal & Bird Clinic! Up until his retirement, Dr. Hays had been helping the area's pets and animal owners as a member of the practice family since 1980.

Dr. Hays and his wife, Kim, have two daughters and four wonderful grandsons. Their dog, Allie, is a Dallas Animal Services rescue whose main mission is to keep the backyard squirrel-free. When he's not spending quality time with family, Dr. Hays likes to stay active by hiking-often in the mountains of Montana-and bicycling. He's fond of both mountain and road biking, and has even cycled in multiple countries; his favorite so far was Vietnam!

Dr. Katy Levitt

Summertree Animal & Bird Clinic has played an integral role in Dr. Katy Levitt's life ever since she was a child.

She grew up bringing her family pets-and stuffed animals-to see Dr. Hays, and he gave her the opportunity to participate in procedures and learn about medical decisions right there in the exam room. Now, Dr. Levitt's journey has come full circle: she's a veterinarian and part-owner of the clinic!

Dr. Levitt earned a degree in music performance from Emory University in Atlanta, taking a summer job here at Summertree Animal & Bird Clinic as a veterinary nurse assistant between her junior and senior years at Hockaday. That's when her childhood fascination with the world of animal care was rekindled-it wasn't long before Dr. Levitt decided to focus on veterinary medicine full-time! She returned to school at Louisiana State University's veterinary program to become a licensed veterinarian, completing an internship at the Belize Zoo and at a dairy cattle practice in Sulphur Springs, Texas, before launching her career in private practice.

Dr. Levitt was thrilled to become a veterinarian with the Summertree Animal & Bird Clinic family in January of 2016. Medically, she's interested in neurology work and dentistry, and she's also passionate about making sure all of her patients feel comfortable during their appointments; Dr. Levitt even completed the Fear Free program last year and is committed to minimizing pets' stress and anxiety during veterinary visits.

Away from the office, Dr. Levitt loves playing the piano and listening to classical music. She even played viola in the orchestra during college, and had the opportunity to perform in New York City's Lincoln Center! She's also an avid runner and hopes to run a half-marathon in the near future. At home, Dr. Levitt and her husband live with their two young daughters; two dogs-Kaiser, a food-loving German Shepherd, and Bonaparte, a Pit Bull/Dachshund mix who was Dr. Levitt's dog for her surgery lab during veterinary school-as well as a citron-crested Cockatoo named Tumbleweed.