We’ve changed our name!
We are now called –
Hamilton Small Animal Veterinary Centre
Read Our Story…
Long-standing vet centre enters new era…
After almost four decades, we’ve changed our name to reflect the growth and evolution of our work.
A huge investment in staff, facilities and equipment in the past eight years have seen the company boom and we’re ready to step into a new name to suit the direction we’re heading.
On 1 December 2018 we announced that Hamilton Veterinary Services would be known as Hamilton Small Animal Veterinary Centre.
The practice director, Dr Douglas Black says the company growth in recent years has exceeded expectations. “We had been growing steadily since we were established in 1950,” says Dr Black. “However, since 2010 in particular, we have experienced significant growth.”
Between 2010 and 2018, client numbers have more than doubled at Hamilton Veterinary Services, and during this time, the practice has performed more than 15,000 surgeries.
“As we grew, we invested in veterinary expertise and made big steps to acquire the best equipment possible. This allowed us to meet the needs of our Waikato clients,” says Dr Black.
The company now has a full suite of services including two small animal surgery units, separate dog and cat wards and two digital x-ray units for both general radiology and dentistry.
We are Hamilton’s longest standing independently owned practice. For almost 70 years we have been providing high quality, compassionate care for animals, and the name change is the start of the next chapter of growth.
Our Small Animal Director and clinical veterinarian, Dr Craig Brighouse, says the growth over the years reflects the hard work our experienced staff have put into continually attaining service excellence.
“Since coming on board 16 years ago, I’ve always felt our company’s culture of excellence is a standout factor,” says Dr Brighouse.
“We’re the only veterinary service in Hamilton to have a BESTPRACTICE accreditation through the New Zealand Veterinary Association. This is a challenging accreditation to achieve and speaks to the level of care and service we give our clients,” says Dr Brighouse.
The practice also provides high level care to all DC Rescue Dogs as well as actively supporting and fundraising for charitable organisations and community groups associated with animals in the Waikato.
From our beginnings in 1950 as Blakely, Thornbury and Dewes, we have grown rapidly, changing our name in the early 1980s to Hamilton Veterinary Services. In 1987, we moved into our first purpose-built building on Te Rapa road a few hundred meters from the original site. Here, we worked with pets and visited sites to tend to large equine and dairy animals.
In 2016, we opened a new, state of the art equine facility in Cambridge to meet the requirements of an increasing workload in all disciplines of horse work – racing, breeding and sport horses.
The new location meant quick and reliable access to excellent treatment for the equine industry.
That same year, we sold the dairy division to focus on equine and small animals. The two branches of the firm now have names that strongly reflect the work we do.
We are confident about the direction we are heading in.
“We’re entering a new era now,” says Dr Brighouse, “There is growing recognition that pets are family members that provide more than simple companionship.”
“The next wave of animal care will involve more sophisticated innovation and specialisation in pet healthcare and wellness and we’re looking forward to delivering that for our clients in the future.”