APRIL 27 • 2023 | 21

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Two Vets Return to 
Open a New Clinic

There are two new Jewish vets in 
town, although they stick to the 
more common pets — exclusively 
dogs and cats. 
Alex Schechter was born and raised 
in Franklin, attended University of 
Michigan for undergrad and Michigan 
State for veterinary school and lived 
in New York for seven years before 
moving back to Birmingham with his 
wife, Alison, their son Graham, 3, and 
their Shih Tzu, Cy. 
Lauren Zeid Glick grew up 
in Bloomfield Hills, attended 
University of Michigan for 
undergrad and Michigan 
State University for veterinary 
school and moved out to Colorado 
for five years before settling 
in West Bloomfield with her 
husband, Jake, daughter, Zara, 
2, and Goldendoodle, Guster. 
Alex and Lauren had known 
of each other from the Jewish 
community and reconnected during 
veterinary school. In 2022, they 
joined forces to create Burrwood 
Veterinary, which offers both 
urgent care and general practice 
medicine. The office is located at 
4245 W. 14 Mile, east of Woodward, 
on the Birmingham-Royal Oak border.
“Being a vet was my dream since 
I was about 3,” Alex said. “My 
family and friends used to call me 
‘Dog Boy’ because I used to act 
like a dog when I was little!” 
His first love was a dog 
named Bailey. He spent high school 
breaks cleaning cages at Oakland 
Vet Referral Service and stayed on 
that track. When he moved to New 
York, he discovered his true passion 
was for emergency vet care. 
“I saw all sorts of cases in 
Manhattan. The police would bring 
dogs with gunshot wounds at all 
hours. I remember working on a 
dog that had jumped to defend his 
owner during a domestic violence 
dispute and a bullet got lodged in 
his neck muscles,” Alex said. 
On one occasion, a pet owner 

collected samples to clone their 
pet. Another time, he sent a dog 
to London to have valve heart 
replacement surgery. 
Burrwood is not just an 
ordinary vet clinic, as both 
doctors are trained in emergency 
care. They can take X-rays, 
bloodwork, ultrasound scans and 
perform advance surgery on-site 
as well as handle cases other vets 
may not feel comfortable seeing, 
such as wounds or marijuana 
intoxication. 
Alex and Lauren are especially 
proud that their office includes a 
huge glass section overlooking the 
treatment and surgery area. 
“We want to invite people to be 
part of their pet’s journey. People 
feel nervous sending their beloved 
pets to the back, and this creates 
transparency so they can actually 
watch everything we do, and no 
one has to worry more than they 
need to,” Alex said. 
Both Alex and Lauren were 
sure it would take a while for 
business to take off, but they’ve 
received tremendous support from 
the Jewish community and are 
extremely grateful. 
“The best part of what I do is 
seeing people and the bond they 
have with their pets,” Alex said. 
“There are amazing benefits that 
animals bring to their humans. That 
interaction really excites me. We’re 
not just treating the pet, we’re 
treating the people, too. Seeing 
the love people have for their pets 
keeps me going, it’s so special to 
see.” 

said with relish. 
Another time, a family came for 
Shabbat dinner and Zvi glanced over 
at Tinkerbell’s terrarium and idly 
commented, “I’ve never seen her come 
out of her cage like that before … 
“Instantly, my friend’s mother was 
across the room … and she was in her 
late 70s! My friend said, ‘I’ve never seen 
my mother move so fast!’” Zvi laughed. 
Zvi and Jamie have four children, 
Amalia, 7, Tuvia, 5, Shalva, 2, and Eliana, 
1, and Zvi says his family has embraced 
Tinkerbell. “I keep her out of reach of the 
younger ones until they’re old enough to 
understand that they can do more harm 
to her than she could to them,
” said Zvi, 
who is a member of Young Israel of Oak 
Park. 
Tarantulas cannot kill a person, but 
their bites can feel like a bee sting or 
cause allergic reactions. 
“She does have some pretty nasty-
looking fangs,” admitted Zvi. “
And if she’s 
not handled well, she could probably do 
some minor damage. But having a pet 
tarantula has worked for us.
” 

BIRDS OF A FEATHER … 
AND MUCH MORE!
Jordyn and Max Popour and their kids 
Cash, 6, and Bodhi, 4, are also very 
into their unusual pets. They have a 
crested gecko called Velcro, a bearded 
dragon called Tilly, two huge dogs 
called Phoenix and King … and over 60 
chickens and 12 ducks! 
“I’m a huge animal lover,
” Jordyn said. 
“I always wanted to have chickens. My 
husband originally said 10 would be OK 
and somehow that turned into 65.
” 
Jordyn grew up in Farmington Hills 
and attended Temple Israel, where her 
parents still belong. 
“I grew up in the city, where chickens 
and ducks are rare,” said Jordyn, who was 
thrilled to move out to Milford in 2021, 
where they purchased two acres of land. 
“One of the biggest surprises to me once 
I got into this world was discovering just 
how many people actually keep them.
” 
Jordyn said looking after animals can 
be extremely educational. 
“It’s so great for kids to see how 
animals live and to learn to take care 
of them. It makes them kinder human 
beings,” she said. 

Alex Schechter 
and Lauren 
Zeid Glick 

