Fidelis Animal Hospital: Dr. Katie Roe-Jarisch’s Journey of Service and Paying It Forward

By Haley Brandon

Dr. Katie Roe-Jarisch grew up in Belton, SC, just outside of Anderson. She attended Clemson University, majoring in Agriculture and minoring in Animal Science. Reflecting on her college years, she admits, “I wasn’t sure what I wanted to do with my life, so my GPA struggled in college. That animal science minor is probably the only reason I had any GPA at all.” After college, she tried teaching for a couple of years but soon realized it wasn’t her calling.

In 2005, Katie’s husband at the time and now good friend, a Marine, was stationed in Okinawa, Japan. This move proved to be a turning point in her life. Working as a vet tech at the largest Army veterinary clinic in the world, Katie found herself engrossed in the field. “One morning I woke up, and I still remember the time of day…sitting thinking to myself…I want to go to vet school,” she recalls. Encouraged by her Commander, a significant role model, she began taking classes to improve her GPA and enrolled in the Army.

Returning to the U.S. in 2008, Katie continued her studies at Southern Virginia University while working at a local clinic. After three attempts, she was finally accepted into vet school at Tuskegee University in Alabama at the age of 30. Setting a goal to graduate by 35, she achieved it by 34, earning her degree Magna Cum Laude. Reflecting on her journey from a 1.95 GPA in college to graduating from vet school with honors, she states, “I just knew that that’s what I wanted to do with my life.”

Katie’s time in the Army as a veterinarian was challenging yet rewarding. Stationed at various bases, including Fort Sam Houston in Texas and Joint Base Lewis-McChord in Washington, she oversaw the health and training of military working dogs across all branches. Not only was she responsible for routine checkups on the dogs, but she also trained handlers on basic first aid so that they knew what to do to save their dog’s life while deployed. “On my days when I didn’t have a lot to do in the clinic on base, I would go out to the working dogs where they were training, and I would just follow them around just in case anybody overheated or needed first aid, just because it’s fun,” she says.

In 2016, after a knee injury and issues with chronic migraines, Katie was medically retired from the Army. “I always said that if I could find a really good job on the coast in South Carolina, we would think about moving back,” she says. A couple of weeks later, a colleague called and asked her to run a clinic in Myrtle Beach, leading her and her husband to move there in 2019. 

A desire for autonomy led Katie to seize an opportunity in Georgetown to take over a veterinary clinic whose owner had passed away. After initial hesitations, she says, “I felt like God was smacking me in the back of the head, saying, ‘This is what you asked me for, and you’re turning it down.’” She bought the property in 2022, naming it Fidelis Animal Hospital, inspired by the Marine Corps motto, “Semper Fidelis,” meaning Always Faithful. The name also pays homage to her time spent with the Marine Corps, where she realized her dreams of attending vet school and joining the Army. The clinic’s logo, featuring an American flag with a German Shepherd and a cat underneath it, symbolizes her commitment to serving veterans. “If they need me, I’m there,” she asserts.

Under Katie’s leadership, Fidelis Animal Hospital quickly outgrew its original space. She recently closed on a new piece of land in Georgetown, with plans to open a new 3,000-square-foot facility in November. “It’s been a lot of blood, sweat, and tears,” she admits. Her goal is not just to run a successful business but to create a supportive community. “I just want to be able to pay it forward. If it were not for the people who gave me the chance, I never would have done the things that I’ve done,” she reflects.

Katie’s dedication to paying it forward is evident in her openness to mentoring and providing opportunities to others. “I’m one of those people that if somebody comes in and wants to shadow or wants to come work for the summer if I’ve got room, the more, the merrier. Because if it weren’t for other people giving me that opportunity, I would not be where I am,” she says. Through Fidelis Animal Hospital, Katie continues to honor her past, serve her community, and take faithful care of our furry friends.

For more information on Fidelis Animal Hospital, visit www.fidelisanimalhospital.com.