Veteran/Family Owned Business

It’s hard to believe that we’re knee-deep in the Holidays as I write this…that Thanksgiving has passed, and that Christmas is coming, to be followed oh-so-quickly by the birth of 2025…

…and that—sadly—2025 will no doubt see the closing of more local and regional veterinary offices.

It’s a trend I’ve noticed, and I have to admit that I’m disturbed by it. To be straight, I am not a fan of corporate healthcare for our animal friends.

We took over the Animal Hospital of Sullivan County in 2001. We live here in Ferndale, and I’m proud to say that we’re embedded in Sullivan County. We get to know our clients—both two-legged and four—and the money we make caring for your fur babies goes back into the community.

We buy groceries locally. We pay taxes locally. We hire local people. We’re committed to staying here and providing the excellent care that I believe only a dedicated community practice can. My husband and I are military veterans, and we hold the concept of loyalty close to our hearts.

I think that’s the big difference between small practices like ours and the corporate chains that own hundreds of veterinary clinics. We cherish having a privately-owned business partly because we have the freedom to choose the best plan to care for each of our clients.

Sad to say, many veterinary professionals in corporate offices are under a ton of pressure from their bottom-line driven taskmasters, who force them to churn through a ridiculous amount of office visits per day and hand out excessive medications and/or vaccines that may not be appropriate for your furball’s lifestyle.

We won’t do that. We get to know Checkers, and we get to know you. We can—and do—take the time to speak with you individually. We learn how Checkers lives, and how any-and-all treatment plans we recommend will affect her quality of life…and yours.

We all live in the modern world, and we all know that corporations are often preoccupied with keeping their schedules overly full, their billable services painfully high, and the costs to the organization minimal. That’s a recipe that ensures that Fromage’s care comes in at a distant second—or, more likely, third—to the profit-at-all-costs mentality. I don’t have to tell you what that means for your pocketbook!

Thankfully, that’s not our mission. Yes, we need to pay the bills, but that doesn’t mean we look to do so at the expense of everything else. Providing knowledgeable, comfortable, safe, and appropriate care is a win for everyone—for Fromage, for you, and for us. Working together ensures that we all experience success.

Again, that means we get to know you. We want you to feel welcome every time we see you. And we pledge to take the time to make sure all of your questions and concerns are thoroughly dealt with. I don’t have to tell you that these things do not occur in the sterile atmosphere that pervades so many corporate practices.

Let’s face it—smaller, local practices have to care in order to succeed. If you don’t believe we love your animal companions as much as you do—well, almost as much as you do—you won’t come back to us. That’s why we work with you to schedule your appointments conveniently. That’s why we allow ample time to inform you about our plan of care and to alleviate any of your concerns. That’s why we want you to be an educated partner, working with us on Huxtable’s good health. We believe that there is no better way.

Smaller, local practices are also more likely to be able to see your animal buddy more quickly when he takes ill. This will likely reduce the time it takes to get Huxtable treated—which is incredibly important in the event of an emergency, where every second counts. Plus, there is the peace of mind that comes with knowing that Huxtable’s veterinary professional is close by. 

And have I mentioned that we truly get to know you and your pet? (Yes, I believe I did!) When you come in, you’ll see me. Once we build a relationship, we’ll be able to discuss all aspects of Comet’s lifestyle with confidence.

With that relationship comes trust. We’ll all feel good about our shared treatment plan, whether it’s for worms, weight issues, or troubles with teeth. And as your pet grows and matures, we’ll have a long history together, which will help us provide appropriate and expert care, no matter what Orson’s stage-in-life might be.

I don’t believe that I can emphasize this enough: getting personalized services is the primo reason to stay local and entrust us with Orson’s care. 

Add to that the fact that you might expand your circle of friends by choosing local veterinary care! I’ve seen it numerous times—you have Splinters with you in our waiting room, when in comes Ozzy (escorted by the people who he lets take care of him, of course). Both Splinters and Ozzy are incredibly cute. Instant conversation! Maybe Ozzy frequents a cool doggie trail that you didn’t know existed. Before long, cell numbers are exchanged and doggie playdates are booked. And the ensuing, impossibly cute pictures get repeated likes on social media.

It’s a small—but friendly—world after all! And that’s not as likely to happen in a corporate setting.

There are other reasons to have your pet treated locally, but you get the idea.

The Animal Hospital of Sullivan County is located at 667 Harris Road in Ferndale, NY. We’re accredited by the American Animal Hospital Association. Your journey to high quality, personalized, local care begins with a phone call: (845) 292-6711. As our slogan says, “Complete veterinary care begins here!”

When you patronize the Animal Hospital of Sullivan County, you know that your furball is getting the very best care. And you can take pride in supporting a locally-owned, small-town practice. We’re happy to take on new clients, and appreciate any referrals.

We thank you for your confidence in us! We are honored that you trust us with the care of your precious animal companions. For us, that’s the greatest holiday gift of all.

We wish the best for everyone in 2025!