Open nights, weekends and holidays, services at UrgentVet are significantly less than at vet ER
Tampa, FL (February, 2022) – UrgentVet, the first dedicated urgent care clinic for pets, announced today it is expanding its footprint in the Tampa Bay area. The company will open a new clinic in St. Petersburg—its 31st location nationwide—and begin serving pets and pet parents on Thursday, February 16.
UrgentVet emphasizes compassion, affordability and convenience within its business model. The groundbreaking concept offers a new solution by bridging the gap between primary practices and 24-hour emergency vets. Open nights, weekends and holidays, the company’s clinics offer pets relief for mild illnesses and minor injuries with rates significantly more affordable than comparable services at an emergency pet hospital.
Located at 1470 66th St. N., UrgentVet-St. Petersburg joins a heavily trafficked retail complex in west St. Petersburg’s Tyrone community. The clinic is 2,600 square feet with three exam rooms exclusively for small dogs, two for large dogs and one for cats.
“Tampa’s UrgentVet-Westchase was our very first Florida location, so the Tampa Bay area has always been special to us,” said Dr. Jim Dobies, DVM and Founder of UrgentVet. “After adding an additional clinic in Hillsborough and one in Pasco, we knew we wanted to establish a presence in Pinellas, and this spot in Tyrone could not be more perfect.”
One factor that certainly impacted the decision to expand to St. Pete, Dobies added, was the distinction the city achieved when it was named America’s most dog-friendly city in August of last year.
Along with species- and size-specific exam rooms, UrgentVet-St. Petersburg is intentionally outfitted with non-slip flooring, dimmable lighting, soothing colors, soft music, calming pheromones and quiet exam lift tables, all in support of creating a fear-free experience. The clinic also has revolutionary tempered glass pet enclosures from Casco that are 70% quieter than metal cages—a design cue that helps make the enclosures the most Fear-Free product on the market today. As an added nod to pet comfort, all staff members at the clinic have received unique training to become Fear-Free-certified professionals.
As is the case with all UrgentVet locations, the clinic’s treatment area features an in-house laboratory and state-of-the-art equipment, including digital radiography and ultrasound technology.
The St. Petersburg location is the 12th clinic to open in Florida and the fourth in the Tampa Bay area, following the introduction of clinics in Westchase, Brandon and New Port Richey. Collectively, those existing Tampa Bay area clinics have treated thousands of pets with an average wait time of less than an hour.
Along with veterinary staffing shortages resulting in longer wait times and limited care options, the impacts of a continued economic downturn are also a major cause for concern in the industry. Nearly 50% of pet parents say they’ve decided to forego or delay veterinary treatments amidst inflation.
“St. Pete is such a pet-friendly city, from downtown to the beaches, and that’s something we always hope to find when we’re evaluating options for new clinic locations,” Dr. Dobies said. “We’re looking forward to making an impact in the community by being a good neighbor and helping pets and pet parents when they need it the most.”
Positioned to provide care for common conditions that require immediate attention but aren’t serious enough for hospitalization, UrgentVet treats vomiting, diarrhea, limping, itching, coughing, not eating, minor wounds, back pain and more.
With all of its clinics, UrgentVet aims to develop strong relationships with neighboring primary care veterinarians, a practice that clinic staff has already started. Approximately 90% of pets seen at UrgentVet are treated on site and referred to their primary vet with a detailed letter and records for follow-up care.
For more information, please contact:
Josh Hall | Sage & Sterling Communications
P: 813-884-9333