PORT ANGELES — If it were up to Dr. Jack Thornton, his retirement would be celebrated only by each person who wishes him well adopting a pet from a local shelter.

But the veterinarian, who has been practicing in Port Angeles for 34 years, is so beloved by those at Blue Mountain Animal Clinic that an all-out celebration from noon to 4 p.m. Saturday at the clinic at 2972 Old Olympic Highway will feature refreshments and stories about “Dr. Jack.”

All are invited to visit and share their favorite stories about the longtime veterinarian.

Representatives of the Olympic Peninsula Humane Society, the Welfare for Animals Guild and Peninsula Friends of Animals are expected to attend.

Thornton originally intended to be a veterinarian for exotic animals, but when jobs were scarce 36 years ago, he decided to work on domesticated animals — although he has done his share of surgeries on the wilder creatures from Olympic Game Farm in Sequim.

He’s done everything from rescuing injured family pets to performing “nose job” surgery on the rhinoceroses at the farm, which offers tours to see such wild beasts as zebras, buffalo, tigers and lions.

“When I went to vet school, I had a classmate who went into marine mammals and originally that is what I tried to do,” he said.

“But the hands-on application of that sort of work is very sparse, and it ends up being kind of bureaucratic.”

So, 34 years ago, the now 64-year-old veterinarian moved to Port Angeles to set up shop as the Blue Mountain Animal Clinic.

He originally worked on both large and small animals, but settled on working only on dogs and cats about 15 years into his practice.

To Dr. Sharon Jensen, who purchased the clinic from Thornton in 2007, it is Thornton’s love of family and animals that sets him apart.

“He and I are of different generations in some ways,” she said. “I’m very into the latest technology bells and whistles, and he is not.

“His compassion and understanding of the family has allowed us to work very well together.”

Describing Thornton as “perhaps the most humble person I have ever had the pleasure to meet,” Jensen said, “He has a real understanding of people that surpasses what the common person has.”

Thornton said he would prefer to quietly slip away or, if he had to have a party, he would have planned a pet adoption party.

Now that he is stepping down, he’ll spend his time with his wife, “just being” — not to mention spending time with his family.

But don’t rule out a little more work for him.

“I may find some way to get back into it,” he said.

“I won’t be back in practice, but I may do some part-time work, and I’ve thought about the wild life venue,” he added.

“I might try working with someone in closer conjunction with wildlife.”

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Reporter Paige Dickerson can be reached at 360-417-3535 or at paige.dickerson@peninsuladailynews.com.