Community Builder: North Heart Vet

For Dr. Joanna C. Spencer, becoming a veterinarian was never simply about treating animals. It was about protecting the powerful bond between pets and the people who love them.

With nearly 30 years of experience spanning private practice, nonprofit veterinary medicine, community outreach, and animal welfare organizations, Dr. Spencer has dedicated her career to making veterinary care more compassionate and accessible. Her work has always been guided by a simple belief that every family deserves to feel supported when caring for their pets, regardless of their circumstances.

While her professional journey has taken her through many different experiences, the Upper Peninsula has always felt like home. Her family’s connection to the area dates back generations, when her great-grandfather worked for the Longyear Company in Iron River in the early 1900s. Although Dr. Spencer was born and raised in Canada, she and her husband eventually purchased a home in the U.P. with dreams of making it their permanent home.

That dream grew into a much larger mission. Dr. Spencer originally planned to build a veterinary clinic from the ground up to help address the shortage of veterinary services across the region. However, during that process, she learned that longtime local veterinarian Dr. Jean Wilcox was preparing to retire from Gwinn-Sawyer Veterinary Clinic and had not yet found someone to carry on her work.

Rather than seeing a trusted community resource close its doors, Dr. Spencer stepped in and purchased the clinic, ensuring generations of pet owners could continue receiving the care they relied on. Today, North Heart Vet, Gwinn Sawyer carries forward that legacy while bringing a renewed focus on accessibility, compassion, and judgment free care.

At North Heart Vet, appointments are about more than medicine. They are about listening. Dr. Spencer takes the time to understand each pet’s needs and each family’s situation. Working together to create practical solutions that prioritize both quality care and realistic options. Her commitment to reducing barriers to veterinary services and preventing economic euthanasia reflects the deep compassion that inspired her to become a veterinarian in the first place.

From routine wellness visits and preventative care to surgeries, diagnostics, dental procedures, and urgent medical services, North Heart Vet provides comprehensive care for dogs and cats throughout the Gwinn area. Looking toward the future, Dr. Spencer hopes to expand access even further through a mobile veterinary unit that can bring care directly into the community.

For Forsyth Forward, North Heart Vet, Gwinn Sawyer represents exactly what a Community Builder is all about. Someone who saw a need, invested in the future of the community, and used their passion and expertise to ensure that both people and their pets have the support they need.

We are proud to welcome Dr. Spencer and North Heart Vet, Gwinn Sawyer to the Forsyth Forward family and look forward to seeing the impact they continue to make in our community. Your pets will be welcomed with kindness, expertise, and a team that truly cares. If you are looking for compassionate care for your furry friends, stop by North Heart Vet!