On April 5, Urgent Vets For Pets opened its doors for cats and dogs of the Sandhills in need of immediate emergency veterinary care. The clinic is open on weekdays to help four-legged family members in need of urgent professional attention.
The goal of Urgent Vets For Pets is to provide walk-in urgent veterinary care for cats and dogs, including non-life-threatening emergencies, when a patient’s regular veterinarian is unavailable.
“We realized there’s a need for this kind of care within the community and wanted to make it happen,” said owner and veterinarian Dr. Tony Ioppolo. “We’re ready to help.”
Urgent Vets For Pets aims to help lessen the burden on primary care veterinary practices that may already have a full schedule. Patients may be referred to Urgent Vets For Pets when their primary care clinic is fully booked for the day, and their pet requires immediate care.
The clinic is newly outfitted with top-of-the-line and cutting-edge equipment and is well prepared for everything from ear infections to lacerations and emergency C-sections. Urgent Vets For Pets offers a wide array of services, including but not limited to digital radiography, in-house lab work, euthanasia, and surgical procedures.
The clinic’s treatment room is specifically set up to be able to closely monitor hospitalized patients, and pets who require continued hospitalization can be transferred to the ER clinic for overnight care. The staff is dedicated to diagnosing pets’ issues and getting beloved pets back on the road to recovery as quickly as possible.
The entirety of the staff — Dr. Ioppolo included — takes great pride in being locally owned and operated. Dr. Ioppolo received his Doctor of Veterinary Medicine degree from Louisiana State University in 2008 and shortly after settled in Moore County. In addition to Urgent Vets For Pets, Dr. Ioppolo also owns Pinehurst Animal Hospital, making him readily familiar with many of the pets and pet owners alike within the Sandhills community.
“We try to know our clients on a personal level,” said Dr. Ioppolo. “We’re not a corporate in-and-out; we get to know them, and they get to know us.”
The entire staff of Urgent Vets For Pets has an extensive background in caring for furry friends from all walks of life. Both practice manager Jessica Fair and veterinarian Dr. Emily Reinier are animal enthusiasts and local equestrians and have been since a young age.
Fair attended St. Andrew’s University where she earned her Certified Veterinary Practice Manager designation. Dr. Reinier received her degree from North Carolina State University and has been enjoying life in the Sandhills.
“We want to make sure clients get a good feeling,” said Dr. Reinier. “We’re a family practice. Their pets are our pets.”
Urgent Vets For Pets does not offer regular vaccinations other than rabies or perform routine preventative care. They do accept all veterinary insurance companies as well as accept CareCredit and ScratchPay.
The clinic is open from 8 to 5:30 p.m. Monday through Friday and is located at 110 Commerce Avenue in Southern Pines. To find out more or contact Urgent Vets For Pets, please email [email protected] or reach them via telephone at (910) 621-7297.
Feature photo: Urgent Vets For Pets staff Jessica Fair (left), Dr. Reinier, Dr. Ioppolo, and Lora Rogers.
~Article and photo by Sandhills Sentinel Reporter Abegail Murphy.
