• "A dog has lots of friends because he wags his tail and not his tongue" -Author Unknown
  • "Every boy should have two things: a dog and a mother willing to let him have one." - Anonymous
  • "Whoever said you can't buy happiness forgot little puppies." - Gene Hill
  • A friend is one who knows you and loves you just the same. - Elbert Hubbard
  • "A hug is like a boomerang - you get it back right away." -Bil Keane
  • "A meow massages the heart." - Stuart McMillan
  • "There is more to life than increasing speed." -Mahatma Ghandi
  • "Happiness is where we find it, but rarely where we seek it." - J. Petit Senn
  • "If your horse says no, you either asked the wrong question, or asked the question wrong." - Pat Parelli
  • "There is something about the outside of a horse that is good for the inside of a man." - Winston Churchill
  • "Dogs are not our whole life, but they make our lives whole." -Roger Caras
  • "No hour of life is wasted that is spent in the saddle." - Winston Churchill
  • "Agreeable friends - they ask no questions, they pass no criticisms." - George Eliot
  • "To err is human - to forgive, canine."
  • "Money may buy you a fine dog, but only love can make it wag its tail." -Kinky Friedman
  • "Until one has loved an animal, a part of one's soul remains unawakened." - Anatole France
  • "I hope to be the kind of person my dog thinks I am." - Unknown
  • "Horses - if God made anything more beautiful, he kept it for himself." - Author unknown
  • "Are we really sure the purring is coming from the kitty and not from our very own hearts?" - Terri Guillemets
  • "There is no psychiatrist in the world like a puppy licking your face." - Ben Williams

Richard A. Barr, D.V.M., B.S., M.S.

Bachelor of Science (B.S.)-Zoology

  • Ohio University, 1972
  • Associate degree in Chemistry & Microbiology
  • Cum Laude honors

Master's degree (M.S.)-Nutrition

  • Ohio State University, 1973
  • Suma Cum Laude Honors

Doctor of Veterinary Medicine (DVM)

  • Ohio State University, 1977
  • Phi Zeta Honors

Practice Emphasis

  • Small Animal & Equine Surgery
  • Orthopedics
  • Reproduction

Dr. Barr has been in private practice in Wisconsin since 1977. His career goal was to build a full-scale veterinary hospital that offered everything that an animal needs under one roof. He wanted to provide the very best medicine and surgery to all of his patients. That was accomplished with the opening of Countrycare Animal Complex in February of 1998.

Dr. Barr is originally from Columbus. Ohio. He is married and has four children. He lives on a farm in Maribel and enjoys the beauty and tranquility of country life. His other interests include 'tinkering with cars', woodworking and spending time on his farm. You may also see him riding his Harley in the summertime!

He has many animals including horses, steers, dogs, and cats.

Karen Strickfaden, D.V.M., B.S., CAC, CVA

Bachelor of Science (B.S.)-Biology

  • University of Michigan, 1989
  • Cum Laude honors

Doctor of Veterinary Medicine (DVM)

  • Michigan State University, 1993
  • Phi Zeta Honors

Certified Veterinary Acupuncturist 1995

Certified in Animal Chiropractic 1996

Practice Emphasis - Holistic medicine
Post graduate courses and training:

  • Bioresonance Therapy
  • Western & Chinese Herbology
  • Essential Oil Therapy
  • Flower Essence Therapy
  • Applied Kinesiology
  • Craniosacral therapy

Dr. Strickfaden has been with Countrycare since her graduation in 1993. She became a co-owner in 1997 and shared the dream of Countrycare Animal Complex. Her interest in holistic medicine has stemmed from her personal experiences and medical issues. She enjoys the challenge of helping an animal that no one else could.

Dr. Strickfaden is originally from Troy, Michigan. She is married and has 2 wonderful children. Her hobbies include scrapbooking, horsebackriding  and cooking. She has 3 horses and various dogs and cats that find their way into her home.