Innovation

Campus Estates Animal Hospital, located in Guelph, Ontario, is the only specialized facility in emergency overnight care for all animals, including small animals and exotics, in the Toronto-London area. In order for this innovation to work at the most optimal level, Campus Estates Animal Hospital invested money to renovate the already created clinic, to recreate rooms that divided predators from prey animals, so these pets can be comfortable and safe during their day and/or overnight stay. Adding to this innovation, is the company’s solution to the UN Global Goals.

Now more than ever, the world needs to foster equality and the well-being of society. This innovative animal hospital aims to work with the pet as well as the owner to make fair and respectful decisions for the animal’s health. A major factor that contributes to excellent care in the hospitals is the innovative infrastructure. Each room is designed to fit the needs of the animal it serves. Specifically, the cat room includes a window with a wide ledge that borders greenery, so that the cats can sit on the ledge, look outside, and feel more comfortable when getting needles or receiving medications.

A major global concern is to promote the sustainable use of ecosystems as well as encourage and create respect for animals. Campus Estates Animal Hospital tackles this goal by consciously using environmentally friendly chemicals for sterilization and shares education presentations of common diseases and abnormalities in exotics and small animals on their website to inform consumers. These initiatives work hand in hand to promote animal safety and respect.

Inspiration

There were two reasons why Dr. Nickey Brown and Alison Dob were compelled to offer a 24/7 veterinary and exotic emergency service: personal desire and societal need. In relation to personal desire, Dr. Brown clearly showed a passion for animal care when she decided to take over Campus Estate Animal Hospital; however, this passion was apparent for years prior. Helping all animals and their owners had always been a focus for Dr. Brown; “Each patient is important to me and I value the relationships that I build with their families”. This drive to provide “Gentle hands and excellent medicine” to all animals led her to incorporate and implement the exotic emergency service into the already growing business.

In addition to Dr. Brown’s personal desire to help as many animals as possible, she was also aware of a societal need for a veterinary practice that offers overnight emergency services to domesticated and exotic animals. Prior to its inception, there was no other emergency service for exotics in the area. Dr. Brown did not want people to have to travel great distances to have their pets cared for, therefore she took action and started offering the overnight exotic service.

The case of Campus Estates Animal Hospital just goes to show that someone’s inspiration does not need to come from a certain life event or any single moment, and rather, can grow within them over several years until they have the means to act on it.

Overall impact

Campus Estate Animal Hospital which was established in 1992 and has since grown into a major veterinary hospital, has made a significant impact on the city of Guelph and its surrounding area. As the only 24/7 animal hospital in the region, this veterinary hospital has gained the trust of the community through its ability to care for and nurture back to health a variety of animals. Specializing in the care for exotic animals, it is providing care to some of the most challenging animal patients.

While Campus Estates prides themselves on providing quality, compassionate and excellent care, they also contribute to the community that they serve. The hospital works collaboratively with the Guelph Humane Society, whom they provide emergency assistance to and also act as foster parents to a few of their animals on an ongoing basis. Furthermore, they support and work jointly with Rabbit Rescue, Turtle Haven, Pet Trust at OVC and even Turks & Caicos Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals, to name a few.

Campus Estates Animal Hospital had made a conscious effort to protect and minimize its effect on the environment through its use of environmentally friendly products. These products are safe for both animals and the environment.

As they look into the future, Campus Estates Animal Hospital has one primary goal that they strive to achieve; the hospital aspires to offer excellent and consistent care and services to the pets that they care for and their owners. Their experience, reputation and desire to care for and improve the lives of animals has had a far-reaching positive impact on not only the city of Guelph but the surrounding region, from Toronto all the way to London.

Business benefit

The innovation of “gentle hands and expert medicine” has done much good for both the company and society. Its innovation, delivery, and employees come together to provide the best aid to pets and their owners.

On the business side, Campus Estates has managed to pull together an excellent team of veterinarians and technicians that fit the company’s culture, work toward the same goals, and share the same passion. Dr. Nickey Brown and Dr. Marco Mazzocco have worked hard to service our animals and bring together a team that would be further able to care for the pets we love and for those animals who have been deprived of affection. Among the team of skilled experts and partners are veterinarians including but not limited to: Kim Murphy, DVM, a veterinary surgeon; Krista Halling, DVM, a veterinary surgeon operating in Mississauga, extending the care beyond the borders of Guelph; and Anthony Yu, a veterinary dermatologist certified by the board, and also a member of the Guelph Veterinary Specialty Hospital Team. These experts all work towards the same goal of treating their animal patients with the utmost care.

On the societal side, Campus Estates provides much needed support to a group that does not fit the predominant traditional house pet role. With its exotic specialists and overnight veterinarians, Campus Estates Animal Hospital is able to bring 24/7 care to its animal patients.

This combination of innovation, veterinarians, and operation, bring the best possible care to its patients at any time of day.

Social and environmental benefit

From an environmental and societal standpoint, the animal hospital provides services to a broad population, but also a very niche market that requires special attention. As mentioned before, the veterinary clinic also specializes in exotic animals, in addition to the predominant household pets (cats, dogs, rabbits, etc.), and is the only emergency exotic clinic in the region. Offering this innovation not only improved Campus Estates Animal Hospital in terms of business but also filled a fairly large gap in the marketplace as, prior to this addition, people who lived in the Toronto to London area had to travel very long distances to have their exotic animal treated. The clinic now services some of the more unusual and uncommon pets and Campus Estates Animal Hospital is able to treat a greater number of animals and owners whenever they may need assistance. In addition to aiding pets and owners, Campus Estates also lends its hand to the less fortunate animals: the abandoned, the feral, and the sickly. For instance, the business provides aid to the Guelph Humane Society, as well as give its support to the Feral Cat Program.

In short, Campus Estates Animal Hospital benefits society by improving the lives and lessening the stress of both the animals and their owners. By offering the only 24/7 domesticated and exotic veterinary services in the area, all animals receive excellent medicine and all owners receive peace of mind. This innovation just goes to show their passion and love for every animal, and how they strive to ensure that every animal and owner is taken care of.

Interview

Dr. Nickey Brown, Veterinarian & Practice Owner