Dr. Brian Norton

A 1996 graduate of the Louisiana State University School of Veterinary Medicine in Baton Rouge Louisiana, Dr Norton is an Arkansas native completing his undergraduate work at the University of Arkansas at Fayetteville. At LSU, he was on the Deans Honor List and, as a member of the Student Chapter of the American Association of Zoo Veterinarians, received an Outstanding Achievement Award for 1993-1994.

After graduation from LSU, he joined the staff at Northgate Pet Clinic (four year AAHA accredited veterinary hospital) in Decatur Illinois eventually becoming an owner/partner with Dr. Larry Baker. While at Northgate Pet Clinic, Dr Norton special interests were Orthopedics, Avian, Exotic and Reptile Medicine. He provided both routine and emergency care to Decatur Police Department, Macon County Sheriff K9 Corps, no-kill animal shelters, humane society, and local pet stores. Dr Norton also provided relief services to the Animal Emergency Clinic of McClean County in Bloomington, Illinois.

From 1996 to 2003, Dr. Norton was the veterinarian for the Scovill Children’s Zoo in Decatur. His zoo experience includes a six week preceptor at the National Zoo in Washington DC, three years at the Greater Baton Rouge Zoo, two years at the Greater Baton Rouge Horse Activity Center as well as specific tasks such as teeth cleanings for the lions at the Audubon Zoo in New Orleans Louisiana, catching escaped wallabies at the Little Rock Zoo in Arkansas and fish surgeries at the National Aquarium in Baltimore Maryland.

Dr. Norton’s volunteer work included lecturing for the Scovill Children’s Zoo Education Department, Parkland Community College Veterinary Technician program in Champaign Illinois with a series on Pocket Pets, and provided veterinary services to the Prairieland Wildlife Center. He worked with the rapture rehabilitation program at LSU.

In 2005, Dr Norton moved to Lowell Indiana and began providing relief services to the area’s veterinary clinics as he searched for a small animal practice to purchase. In December 2006, he became the owner of Bardens Animal Clinic in Lowell. Dr Norton’s goal for Bardens Animal Clinic is to continue the legacy of "old Dr. Bardens" by providing modern, state-of-art veterinary services to the community. His passion and love for animals drives his ambition to provide the best veterinary care possible to our furry, scaly, or feathered friends.

The Norton family enjoys the company of their three dogs Sasha, Shadow, and Romeo. They also have three cats Bert, Mardi Gras, and Spiderman. The family enjoys computer games, camping, fishing, and cycling. Dr. Norton is a rescue diver and likes to scuba dive in the Caribbean. Dr. Norton has rescued, fostered and placed into loving homes many pets including a 14 foot boa constrictor named Lily Pad, various geckos, skinks, sugar gliders, parrots, ball python, and two Cockatiels named Razor and Tiger.