Dr. Thomas Cabantac, DVM
Veterinarian, St. Francis Veterinary Clinic
Conway

After finishing veterinarian school at Tuskegee University in Auburn, Ala., Dr. Thomas Cabantac and his wife Jenny returned to Conway to begin his career, and to get reacquainted with a city that holds a special place in both of their hearts. After all, it’s where the young couple met — on campus pursuing their undergraduate degrees at the University of Central Arkansas.

“I loved my time at UCA,” Thomas said. “I received a great education. I met my wife there. I met many lifelong friends there … friendships and connections that remain today.”

And even after leaving the “City of Colleges” to pursue his dream of practicing veterinary medicine, Thomas and his wife always hoped they’d be able to return.

“We wanted to come back, if at all possible,” Thomas said. “Conway is the perfect mix of a small town feel, but with all of the amenities of a larger city. It’s a wonderful place to raise a family. The schools are excellent and there are a large variety of extracurricular activities for our three daughters to choose from.”

Home really is where the heart is for the Cabantac family, but Thomas’ heart also is at work with his animal patients and their owners at St Francis Veterinary Clinic.

“I love meeting the different patients,” he said. “I love watching them grow up; I love taking care of them through various illnesses, surgeries and preventative medicine. I also love getting to know and developing relationships with their owners. The mix of animals and people that I get to interact with keeps my job interesting and fun.”

Describe your passion for helping animals: From a young age, I always loved animals. I knew in high school that I wanted to pursue veterinary medicine. While in college, I began working as a veterinary assistant at the Little Rock Emergency Clinic. That experience confirmed the fact that this was what I wanted to do with the rest of my life.

Why do you love living in Conway? We have a lot of family and friends that live near us. We love our church (New Life Church) and are very involved there. We love how our neighborhood feels like a family. We also love the restaurants and shopping options that Conway provides.

is Conway a great place for pets too? Yes, Conway is a wonderful place for pets. There are numerous walking trails and friendly neighborhoods. As something to look forward to, there is talk of Conway getting a dog park at some point in the future. This would be a great place for dogs to be able to exercise and socialize with other dogs.

Thomas’ Favorites

  • Favorite place to take the family pet: Two Rivers Park (Little Rock); Pinnacle Mountain State Park (Little Rock)
  • Best bets for a bite to eat? Mike’s Place; ZAZA; Mean Bean Café; David’s Burgers
  • Favorite places to shop? Conway Commons; The Ride
  • Best annual events in Conway: Toad Suck Daze; Soaring Wings Half Marathon; Conway Kids Triathlon
  • Favorite family hangout: Swimming at Conway Regional Health & Fitness Center