POULSBO — Craig Adams deals with both joy and sorrow in his daily work. As a veterinarian, he sees the joy of families bonding with their happy, healthy puppies and kittens. He also sees — and helps guide the pets’ families through — illness and end of life issues.

Being a veterinarian is a calling for Adams, and he embraces a high standard in his profession, according to his recent accreditation through the American Animal Hospital Association.

“I was searching for a career I would enjoy that was mentally stimulating on a daily basis,” Adams said. “I wanted to know that what I’m doing makes a difference. This fulfills that. Being a veterinarian is a great profession.”

Poulsbo Animal Clinic, a joint business venture for Adams and his wife, Bethany, earned the recognition after hosting a thorough, onsite review by a representative of the association in January. They purchased the clinic in March 2009 and spent one long, busy weekend sprucing up the inside with new cabinets and various renovations.

“The deal closed on a Saturday and we were open the following Monday,” he said.

To earn the accreditation, the clinic had to meet a few specific benchmarks, such as having diagnostic services like x-ray and a laboratory onsite, according to a brochure put out by the association. Once those and other standards are met, the clinic hosted an onsite inspection which covered everything from patient records to general upkeep of the facility.

The clinic chose from two dates for the inspection: one in January and one in April. Though the January date gave only two weeks advance notice, the office manager, Kristy Pinegar, had no interest in waiting until April.

Adams earned a master’s in science from the University of Washington’s, School of Fisheries, then graduated from Washington State University’s College of Veterinary Medicine in 2003. He specializes in soft tissue and orthopedic surgery and dentistry.His wife and business partner also is a veterinarian and a graduate of Washington State’s College of Veterinary Medicine. When the couple moved to Poulsbo in 2004, she worked for several years at VCA Central Kitsap Animal Practice.

The Poulsbo Animal Clinic is located in the Poulsbo Village and offers wellness, surgical and dental care. He joins a handful of animal hospitals in Kitsap and about 3,000 animal hospitals in the United States and Canada that hold the accreditation.