Within the veterinary industry, the COVID-19 pandemic highlighted a gap in pet care that has shaped how services are delivered and experienced. As pet adoption surged worldwide, veterinary practices faced an unprecedented influx of demand. Research indicates that rising pet acquisition during the pandemic contributed to increased pressure on veterinary service systems, while clinics and pet parents faced constraints in accessing routine and timely care.
It is within this context that Dr. Stevie Jones Jr. and Dr. Jasmine Nolan co-founded ACHIEVE Veterinary Urgent Care. As both practicing veterinarians and a husband-wife team, their combined experience across general practice and emergency medicine offered a unique vantage point into the structural challenges facing the industry.
"We saw the same problem from two very different sides," says Dr. Jones. "In general practice, there were cases we knew needed attention sooner than we could provide. From the emergency perspective, we were seeing hospitals overwhelmed with cases that were urgent but not critical. That disconnect had real consequences for pets and their families."
Dr. Nolan adds, "When systems are strained, it is the patients who feel it most. In veterinary medicine, that means animals who cannot advocate for themselves and pet parents who are left navigating uncertainty. We knew there had to be a better way to deliver care in that space between routine and emergency."
ACHIEVE Veterinary Urgent Care was established to fill that space. Positioned between traditional general practice and emergency care, the model offers timely, walk-in-based treatment for non-life-threatening but pressing medical concerns. Conditions such as vomiting, diarrhea, minor injuries, infections, and other acute issues can be addressed without the delays associated with general practice scheduling or the intensity of emergency room settings.
From the outset, the founders aimed to build more than a practice. They sought to define a new category of care. Drawing on their complementary expertise, they integrated the clinical rigor of emergency medicine with the personalized, relationship-driven approach of general practice.
"Our goal was to take the best elements from both environments and create something that serves pets and pet parents more effectively," says Dr. Nolan. "Urgent care in veterinary medicine should feel accessible, responsive, and compassionate, while still maintaining a high standard of clinical excellence."
According to them, this approach extends beyond patient care to include veterinary education. A key component of ACHIEVE's mission involves helping pet parents better understand how to navigate veterinary services. By encouraging a mindset similar to human healthcare decision-making, they aim to empower informed choices.
"Pet parents should not have to guess where to go," Dr. Jones explains. "If it is a routine need, schedule with your primary veterinarian. If it is a true emergency, go to the ER immediately. But there is a wide range of conditions in between, and those deserve a dedicated solution. That is where urgent care plays a critical role."
Equally important, he adds, is the collaborative framework ACHIEVE has built within the broader veterinary ecosystem. Rather than competing with existing practices, the model is designed to support them. General practitioners can refer cases that require more immediate attention, while emergency hospitals can redirect non-critical cases to ACHIEVE, easing congestion and improving patient flow.
"We are part of a larger network of care," says Dr. Nolan. "Our purpose is to strengthen that network. When veterinarians work together in a coordinated way, outcomes improve across the board. Pets receive the right care at the right time, and pet parents gain clarity and confidence."
This philosophy is reflected in the practice's operations and community engagement, emphasizing accessibility, transparency, and a patient-centered approach that prioritizes both medical outcomes and the overall experience of care.
As ACHIEVE continues to grow, its founders remain focused on expanding the reach of this model. The need that inspired its creation persists across the industry, and the opportunity to address it extends far beyond a single location.
"What we have built is meaningful, but it is only one step," says Dr. Jones. "The gap we set out to address exists in communities everywhere. Expanding our model means bringing this level of care and this way of thinking to more families who need it."
Dr. Nolan echoes this vision. She says, "Growth for us is about impact. Every new location represents more pets receiving timely care and more pet parents feeling supported. That is what drives our plans for the future."
In an industry shaped by evolving demands and rising expectations, ACHIEVE Veterinary Urgent Care represents a thoughtful and necessary evolution. By addressing a critical gap in service delivery, the practice aims to improve access to pet care while redefining how veterinary medicine can serve both pets and the people who love them.
