Hani Battah, Veterinarian
Born and raised in Baghdad Iraq, I always loved animals, which is very unusual in
that culture. I remember when I was around 14 years old coming back from the doctor's
office for a stomach issue. I looked at my beloved dog, Kelly, and wished he could have
told me that something was hurting or didn't feel right so he could get the care that he
needed. A couple of years later, my other dog, Lady, developed bloody diarrhea after giving birth to her fourth litter of pups and unfortunately died. That was when I decided that I needed to find out the cause of their death and how to help these wonderful and loyal creatures stay healthy and heal them when they become ill. I asked my mother "how can I do that" She said, "You would have to study veterinary medicine." After some research, we came across Baghdad University School of Veterinary Medicine.
I loved small animals, but the focus in Iraq was on production animals and horses.
During the summer break I would study small animal medicine on my own. After
graduating in 1993, our family had to escape Iraq due to the events that took place after
the end of the first gulf war. After a couple of failed attempts to reach the United States, I
decided to immigrate to New Zealand and start a life there. Unable to work as a
veterinarian without certification in a new country, I decided to work in retail. That
experience improved my command of the English language and my communication
skills.
I became a New Zealand citizen in 1999 and felt free for the first time. I decided
to move to the United States to be with my family after 6 long years of separation, and worked as a veterinary technician for a year in Detroit, Michigan. On Christmas eve 2000, I met my wonderful wife, a native of Lancaster, Pennsylvania, and moved to
Pennsylvania in 2001. I worked as a technician at Manheim Pike Veterinary Hospital,
Pets emergency, and York emergency animal hospitals. I had to study all aspects of
veterinary medicine for a second time, except this time it was in English, since I learned
most of it in Arabic, to fulfill the requirements needed to become a licensed veterinarian
in the United States.
It was bitter work, but the results were worth it. I started working for Smoketown
Veterinary Hospital on June 1st, 2004. I had a passion for veterinary dentistry and oral
surgery, I started taking courses both lectures and wet labs at the Animal Dental Training
Center in Baltimore Maryland under the tutelage of Dr. Ira Luskin and many other
experts in this field of veterinary medicine for almost 8 years. I enrolled in the Academy
of veterinary dentistry program in 2013 under the mentorship of Dr. Kathy Queck from
the Carolinas Animal Hospital and Dental Center in Charlotte North Carolina. I almost
completed the accreditation, but the program was terminated in 2015 before I could
finish. On September 3rd 2019 I helped launch a local mobile veterinary service
where I provided in home veterinary care to all of Lancaster county area. The COVID
pandemic was a real challenge but with hard work and perseverance the business
continued to grow. After a year and a half of being a solo veterinarian and due to
irreconcilable differences, I decided to walk away from that business and join the team of
Happy Tails animal Hospital. I have known Dr. Diane Hodges for a long time and have
come to know and grow fond of the staff members. They are definitely some of the best
that I have worked with over the years.
In my spare time I enjoy spending time with my family, practicing gymnastics,
strength training, martial arts, and handy man work.
Born and raised in Baghdad Iraq, I always loved animals, which is very unusual in
that culture. I remember when I was around 14 years old coming back from the doctor's
office for a stomach issue. I looked at my beloved dog, Kelly, and wished he could have
told me that something was hurting or didn't feel right so he could get the care that he
needed. A couple of years later, my other dog, Lady, developed bloody diarrhea after giving birth to her fourth litter of pups and unfortunately died. That was when I decided that I needed to find out the cause of their death and how to help these wonderful and loyal creatures stay healthy and heal them when they become ill. I asked my mother "how can I do that" She said, "You would have to study veterinary medicine." After some research, we came across Baghdad University School of Veterinary Medicine.
I loved small animals, but the focus in Iraq was on production animals and horses.
During the summer break I would study small animal medicine on my own. After
graduating in 1993, our family had to escape Iraq due to the events that took place after
the end of the first gulf war. After a couple of failed attempts to reach the United States, I
decided to immigrate to New Zealand and start a life there. Unable to work as a
veterinarian without certification in a new country, I decided to work in retail. That
experience improved my command of the English language and my communication
skills.
I became a New Zealand citizen in 1999 and felt free for the first time. I decided
to move to the United States to be with my family after 6 long years of separation, and worked as a veterinary technician for a year in Detroit, Michigan. On Christmas eve 2000, I met my wonderful wife, a native of Lancaster, Pennsylvania, and moved to
Pennsylvania in 2001. I worked as a technician at Manheim Pike Veterinary Hospital,
Pets emergency, and York emergency animal hospitals. I had to study all aspects of
veterinary medicine for a second time, except this time it was in English, since I learned
most of it in Arabic, to fulfill the requirements needed to become a licensed veterinarian
in the United States.
It was bitter work, but the results were worth it. I started working for Smoketown
Veterinary Hospital on June 1st, 2004. I had a passion for veterinary dentistry and oral
surgery, I started taking courses both lectures and wet labs at the Animal Dental Training
Center in Baltimore Maryland under the tutelage of Dr. Ira Luskin and many other
experts in this field of veterinary medicine for almost 8 years. I enrolled in the Academy
of veterinary dentistry program in 2013 under the mentorship of Dr. Kathy Queck from
the Carolinas Animal Hospital and Dental Center in Charlotte North Carolina. I almost
completed the accreditation, but the program was terminated in 2015 before I could
finish. On September 3rd 2019 I helped launch a local mobile veterinary service
where I provided in home veterinary care to all of Lancaster county area. The COVID
pandemic was a real challenge but with hard work and perseverance the business
continued to grow. After a year and a half of being a solo veterinarian and due to
irreconcilable differences, I decided to walk away from that business and join the team of
Happy Tails animal Hospital. I have known Dr. Diane Hodges for a long time and have
come to know and grow fond of the staff members. They are definitely some of the best
that I have worked with over the years.
In my spare time I enjoy spending time with my family, practicing gymnastics,
strength training, martial arts, and handy man work.