Doctor's at Best Friend's Veterinary Center

Dr. Eric Anderson,  Is the director of the Best Friend's Veterinary Center.  As a child, he had a large variety of pets including cats, dogs, cockatoos, cockatiels, iguanas, llamas,  goats, sheep,  snakes, lizards, and even a tarantula spider.  In a recent readership poll of the Whidbey News Times, Dr. Anderson again was voted Best Veterinarian on Whidbey.  Dr. Anderson prides himself in advanced post doctoral education and has been especially strong in orthopedic surgery, dentistry and ultrasonagraphy.   He has taken the course work from Ohio State University orthopedics.  He is also one of only a hand full of veterinarians in Washington State who is certified to perform the Tibia Plateau Leveling Operation (TPLO) for cruciate ligament knee repair.

The latest ultrasound imagining techniques have been gained by attending advanced course work offered by the ultrasound specialists at Sound Technologies in California.  The new GE 400 Pro ultrasound is the latest in color flow Doppler and is non-invasive sparing pets the pain of surgery.  He currently also teaches as Adjunct Professor at Washington State University.

    The Anderson family first moved to Whidbey Island in 1912.  Eldon, his father,  helped to construct the Deception Pass Bridge and founded the Elephant Car Washes.  Dr. Anderson for a time attended Coupeville High School and is an alumnus of  Washington State University.  Eric and his wife Mary live in Oak Harbor.  

    Dr. Anderson in 2005 lead his colleagues in the area to form the Pet Emergency Center to serve the emergency needs of critical care patients.  In 2007 after what was years of planning and training he and a colleague started the Thyroid Treatment Center.   It is for cats suffering from hyperthyroidism.  The TTC is only one of two privately operated Thyroid Treatment Center in the entire state for cats.

Dr. Anderson's daughter Erica Syring, D.V.M. is a tremendously talented gift to the clinic.  Bragging rights.   His son, Christian Anker Anderson owns and operates Century 21 Realestate in Oak Harbor.   Chris and wife Lisa are owners and builders of the "Exxtra Space" storage facility at the entrance to Oak Harbor. They have tow children Thomas and Caitlin. Mary's daughter Jessica (Walker) Eickhoff has been active in the Whidbey Playhouse theater for many years.  You may have seen her perform in  Into the Woods, 110 in the Shade, and Cinderella and in The Sound of Music.  Jessica is attending the University of Washington and plans to become credentialed in Speech Pathology .   Michael also enjoys theater and is attending Whatcom Community College.

Dr. Erica Syring, is a Whidbey Island native. She grew up in Oak Harbor and attended Oak Harbor High School. Dr. Syring is an  alumna of  Washington State University College and received her undergraduate degree in Wildlife Science. She then graduated with her degree in Veterinary Medicine from Ross University. She practiced in a small animal & exotic hospital in Vancouver before moving back to the island. The Syring family includes her husband Aaron, Daughters Payton and Reagan.  Pets include 2 Labradors: Lucy and Lola and the cat: Fatty.   Dr. Erica and Aaron are the proud owner's of Island Drug located in Oak Harbor, Clinton and LaConnor.   Dr. Syring 's interests in veterinary medicine include ultrasonagraphy, internal medicine, and soft tissue surgery.  In her free time she enjoys family and friend get-togethers, camping, scuba diving, snow and water-skiing. 

Dr. Alinda Buckingham grew up in the Black Hills of South Dakota where she learned to love all living creatures early in life. Her grandparents still tell stories of how she was catching insects in the yard as soon as she was able to walk. As a child she enjoyed following in her younger brothers footsteps as they captured frogs, snakes and crawdads together, further enhancing her love for all things exotic. Dr. Buckingham attended Coe College in Cedar Rapids, Iowa where she received her Bachelors in Biology and then went on to Iowa State University where she earned her degree in Veterinary Medicine.  

Dr. Buckingham currently resides with her dogs Romeo and Sheila, her cats Angel, Satin and Zoey, the blue frogs Crescent and Blizzard, and a colony of crested geckos. In her free time, she enjoys the great outdoors with hiking,  fishing, camping and scuba diving.

Dr. Crystal Brazle  is a graduate of the University of Missouri-Columbia College of Veterinary Medicine. She has a variety of experience in both mixed animal and small animal practices. Her special interests include emergency critical care and soft tissue surgery. In her free time she enjoys camping, hiking and a variety of sports activities.