BluePearl Specialty and Emergency Pet Hospital

Last updated

BluePearl Specialty and Emergency Pet Hospital
Type Subsidiary of Mars, Incorporated
IndustryVeterinary Services
Founded1996, Tampa, Florida
Headquarters Tampa, Florida, United States
28°02′08″N82°29′32″W / 28.035474°N 82.492135°W / 28.035474; -82.492135
Key people
Nicholas Nelson, DVM, MBA (President)
Products Veterinary care
Number of employees
7,000+ (2022)
Website bluepearlvet.com

BluePearl Specialty and Emergency Pet Hospital is a company owned by Mars, Incorporated that operates specialty and emergency veterinary hospitals throughout the United States. They currently have hospitals in 29 states, as of early 2022. The firm is one of the largest private providers of approved veterinary residency and internship educational programs in the world, [1] and employs 1,330+ veterinarians, 1,600+ veterinary technicians, and 4,100+ other professionals. [2]

Contents

History

The firm was founded as Florida Veterinary Specialists in 1996 by two brothers, Dr. Neil Shaw, a board-certified specialist in veterinary internal medicine, and Darryl Shaw, a certified public accountant. [3] In 2008, it merged with NYC Veterinary Specialists and Cancer Treatment Center in New York City and Veterinary Specialty and Emergency Center in Kansas City, creating BluePearl Specialty and Emergency Pet Hospital. [4] In 2010, Georgia Veterinary Specialists and Michigan Veterinary Specialists also merged with the firm. [5]

In October 2015, BluePearl Specialty and Emergency Pet Hospital was acquired by Mars Petcare division. This acquisition resulted in Mars Petcare, who also owns Banfield Pet hospital and pet food brands such as Royal Canin and Pedigree, becoming the largest pet nutrition and veterinary care provider in the world. [6]

Significant events

In February 2010, Dr. Michael Kimura, a specialist in veterinary neurology with BluePearl, assisted in giving a live shark from the Florida Aquarium an MRI after the shark had failed to eat anything and it seemed like there was a foreign object lodged in the shark's esophagus. This is one of the first times a live shark had ever been given an MRI under anesthesia. [7]

In March 2013, the firm's Dr. Amy Zalcman, in Manhattan, oversaw the removal of 111 pennies from a Jack Russell Terrier named Jack. using the non-invasive Endoscopic foreign body retrieval, to remove the pennies one-by-one. [8]

On May 22, 2013,the firm's Dr. Mike Reems removed a 4-pound hairball from a tiger in Clearwater, Fla. The hairball was given to Ripley's Believe it or Not. [9]

On October 21, 2013, doctors from the firm saved the life of Eddie, a 5-year-old Belgian Shepherd Dog (Malinois) assigned to the U.S. Air Force's 6th Security Forces Squadron at MacDill Air Force Base when he presented at BluePearl Veterinary Partners in Tampa, Fla. [10] with signs related to heatstroke. [11] The dog, an Air Force K-9 trained to detect improvised explosive devices, is credited with saving the lives of several service members in Afghanistan when he detected an IED. [12]

In 2017, an Instagram celebrity dog named Chloe died while in the care of Blue Pearl's New York hospital. Her death was attributed to a medical error and made headlines across the country. [13]

Blue Pearl has been fined by the government for workplace safety violations in Washington state. They have also been fined for violating the Family and Medical Leave Act in Virginia. [14]

Partnerships

In 2011, the firm partnered with the U.S. Army to provide Army veterinarians and technicians preparing to deploy to areas of conflict with hands-on emergency veterinary experiences at the firm's hospitals. [15] The program is a nine-day schedule where the soldiers experience first-hand medical veterinary emergencies. [16]

Awards and recognition

In 2009, Dr. Neil Shaw was featured in People Magazine as a hometown hero in the issue titled, "Hero in Hard Times." [17]

In 2010, Darryl Shaw, CEO and Neil Shaw, Chief Medical Officer, received the Ernst & Young Florida Entrepreneur of the Year Award for the services category.

In August 2012, BluePearl Veterinary Partners was 1,695 on the 2012 Inc. 5000, a list of the 5,000 fastest growing businesses in the U.S. according to Inc. (magazine). BluePearl was also recognized as the 16th fastest growing company in Tampa for 2012 by Inc. (magazine). [18]

In December 2012, BluePearl Veterinary Partners was ranked #36 out of the top 100 job creators in the U.S. according to Inc. Magazine's Hire Power Awards. [19]

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Veterinarian</span> Health professional who treats non-human animals

A veterinarian (vet) is a medical professional who practices veterinary medicine. They manage a wide range of health conditions and injuries in non-human animals. Along with this, veterinarians also play a role in animal reproduction, health management, conservation, husbandry and breeding and preventive medicine like nutrition, vaccination and parasitic control as well as biosecurity and zoonotic disease surveillance and prevention.

Mars, Incorporated is an American multinational manufacturer of confectionery, pet food, and other food products and a provider of animal care services, with US$45 billion in annual sales in 2022. The company was ranked as the fourth-largest privately held company in the United States by Forbes. Headquartered in McLean, Virginia, the company is entirely owned by the Mars family. Mars operates in four business segments around the world: Mars Wrigley Confectionery, Petcare, Food, and MARS Edge, the company's life sciences division.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">United States Army Veterinary Corps</span> Verterinary service of the U.S. Army

The U.S. Army Veterinary Corps is a staff corps of the U.S. Army Medical Department (AMEDD) consisting of commissioned veterinary officers and Health Professions Scholarship Program (HPSP) veterinary students. It was established by an Act of Congress on 3 June 1916. Recognition of the need for veterinary expertise had been evolving since 1776 when General Washington directed that a "regiment of horse with a farrier" be raised. It has evolved to include sanitary food inspectors and animal healthcare specialists.

Feline asthma is a common allergic respiratory disease in cats, affecting at least one percent of all adult cats worldwide. It is a chronic progressive disease for which there is no cure. Common symptoms include wheezing, coughing, labored breathing and potentially life-threatening bronchoconstriction. There is conjecture that the disease has become more common due to increased exposure to industrial pollutants. Feline asthma can also be attributed to lung damage caused by long-term exposure to second-hand smoke.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Hill's Pet Nutrition</span> Pet food company

Hill's Pet Nutrition, Inc., marketed simply as "Hill's", is an American pet food company that produces dog and cat foods. The company is a subsidiary of Colgate-Palmolive.

Sophia Yin was a veterinarian, applied animal behaviorist, author and lecturer. She was a pioneer in the use of positive reinforcement for training dogs, and was widely recognized as an expert in the training of pets.

Dr. Jeff Werber, DVM is an American veterinarian and veterinary medical journalist. Werber has hosted the television series Lassie's Pet Vet, as well as appearing as a pet-topic contributor on such programs as The Dr. Oz Show, Rachael Ray, and Fox & Friends.

PetMed Express, Inc., also known as PetMeds, is an online pet pharmacy based in the United States. It is publicly traded and sells prescription and non-prescription pet medication.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">MSPCA-Angell</span>

The Massachusetts Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals-Angell Animal Medical Center (MSPCA-Angell) is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization with its main headquarters on South Huntington Avenue in the Jamaica Plain neighborhood of Boston, Massachusetts. It was founded in 1868, and is the second-oldest humane society in the United States. "MSPCA-Angell" was adopted as the society's identity in 2003, and indicates the names of its two closely related predecessor organizations: Massachusetts Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals and Angell Animal Medical Center. The organization provides direct care to thousands of homeless, injured, and abused animals each year, and provides animal adoption, a veterinary hospital, advocacy, and humane law enforcement.

Banfield Pet Hospital is a privately owned company based in Vancouver, Washington, United States, that operates veterinary clinics. Part of the Mars Inc. family of companies, Banfield owns clinics in the United States, Mexico, and the United Kingdom. Founded in 1955, the company operates many of its 1,000 plus clinics inside PetSmart stores. Banfield is the largest privately owned veterinary practice in the United States. On April 2, 2014, Banfield Pet Hospital announced its headquarters would be relocating to Vancouver, Washington, from nearby Portland, Oregon.

<i>Bondi Vet</i> Australian factual TV series

Bondi Vet is an Australian factual television series. It follows the lives of veterinary surgeon Chris Brown at the Bondi Junction Veterinary Hospital, and emergency veterinarian Lisa Chimes at the Small Animal Specialist Hospital (SASH), in the Sydney suburb of North Ryde.

VCA Animal Hospitals, incorporated as VCA, Inc., operates more than 1,000 animal hospitals in the US and Canada. The company is based in Los Angeles, and was founded in 1986. Until its acquisition by Mars Inc. in 2017, VCA traded on the NASDAQ under the ticker "WOOF".

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Robert M. Miller</span> American veterinarian and equine behaviorist (born 1927)

Robert M. Miller is an equine behaviorist and veterinarian, best recognized for his system of training newborn foals known as imprint training. Miller is also one of the early adopters and promoters of Natural horsemanship. His work is often referred to by natural horsemanship clinicians. He has served as a judge in the annual Road to the Horse competition, and also is a co-founder of the "Light Hands Horsemanship" concept and annual clinic.

Long Island Veterinary Specialists is a veterinary specialty center located in Plainview, Long Island, New York.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Veterinary medicine in the United States</span> Medical treatment of animals in the United States

Veterinary medicine in the United States is the performance of veterinary medicine in the United States, normally performed by licensed professionals, and subject to provisions of statute law which vary by state. Veterinary medicine is normally led by veterinary physicians, termed veterinarians or vets, but also by paraveterinary workers, such as veterinary technicians, and veterinary assistants. This can be augmented by other paraprofessionals with specific specialties, such as animal physiotherapy or dentistry, and species-relevant roles such as farriers.

AniCura AB is a European family of animal hospitals and clinics focused on primary and specialized veterinary care for companion animals. AniCura AB has operations in Sweden, Norway, Denmark, Germany, Austria, Switzerland, the Netherlands, Spain, Italy, France, Belgium, Portugal, Andorra and Russia. The company comprise 450 animal hospitals and clinics that are visited by 3.6 million pets every year, mainly cats and dogs. The total number of employees is approximately 11,000 of whom 4,000 are veterinarians and half have some form of specialist qualification, either national or international specialisation.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Rood & Riddle Equine Hospital</span>

Rood & Riddle Equine Hospital was established in Lexington, Kentucky in 1986 as a partnership between veterinarians William Rood and Thomas Riddle. The facility offers a range of services for the treatment of horses. They have cared for many famous Thoroughbreds both at the racetrack and on the farm. They also provide support for other equine sporting events such as the 2010 FEI World Equestrian Games held in Lexington. Rood & Riddle operates branches in Saratoga Springs, New York and Wellington, Florida.

Whistle Labs Inc. is a subsidiary of Mars Petcare headquartered in San Francisco, California. It produces and markets the Whistle GPS Pet Tracker, a device worn on a pet's collar that monitors its activity and location. In addition to pet owners, the devices have been used by veterinary researchers.

Vetster is a Canadian veterinary telemedicine company. It is headquartered in Toronto, Canada.

References

  1. Bode, Cathleen K. "Ebola & Pets". www.tampastylemagazine.com. Tampa Style Magazine. Archived from the original on December 5, 2018. Retrieved December 5, 2018.
  2. Staff. "Veterinarians provide winter safety tips for pets". www.jacksoncountydaily.com. Jackson County Daily. Archived from the original on November 27, 2013. Retrieved November 27, 2013.
  3. "Three specialty hospitals form partnership". www.dvm360.com. DVM360 Magazine. Retrieved July 1, 2008.
  4. Staff. "Darryl Shaw: Puppies, kitties and big business". bizjournals.com/. Tampa Bay Business Journal. Retrieved November 15, 2013.
  5. Staff. "BluePearl Veterinary Partners Gains 2 Specialty Practices". www.veterinarypracticenews.com. Veterinary Practice News. Retrieved July 12, 2010.
  6. "BluePearl, Banfield now part of same company".
  7. Tampa Bay's ABC Action News
  8. Staff (March 12, 2013). "Jack Russell Terrier Swallows 111 Pennies". www.newyork.cbslocal.com. CBS 2 News New York. Retrieved March 12, 2013.
  9. Surgeons remove 4-pound hairball from 400-pound tiger May 23, 2013
  10. NEWstat. "Nine U.S. hospitals and clinics designated Veterinary Trauma Centers". aahanet.org. American Animal Hospital Association. Retrieved April 26, 2013.
  11. Associated Press. "Air Force K-9 recovering from heatstroke". www.AirForceTimes.com. Air Force Times. Retrieved October 23, 2013.
  12. Levesque, William. "Bomb-sniffing Malinois has MacDill's backing as Hero Dog". www.tampabay.com. Tampa Bay Times. Archived from the original on November 15, 2013. Retrieved May 24, 2013.
  13. "Chloe the Mini Frenchie Dies Unexpectedly Due to Animal Hospital's 'Fatal Error'". Peoplemag. Retrieved January 6, 2024.
  14. Osgood, Jarod Facundo, Brian (July 20, 2022). "'Welcome to Hell'". The American Prospect. Retrieved January 6, 2024.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)
  15. Van Orden, Sandi. "Williamson County: Soldiers complete training to work with battlefield dogs". tennessean.com. The Tennessean. Retrieved September 2, 2012.
  16. "Soldiers Learn Vet Skills To Help Dogs On The Front Lines". www.newschannel5.com. NewsChannel 5 (WTVF-TV). Archived from the original on September 5, 2012. Retrieved August 28, 2012.
  17. "Hometown Hero! Dr. Neil Shaw Treats Pets in Need for Free". www.peoplepets.com. People Magazine. Retrieved February 9, 2009.
  18. "Inc. Magazine". www.inc.com. Inc. magazine. Retrieved November 14, 2013.
  19. Sasso, Michael. "Brothers' Tampa-based veterinary company in booms in recession". www.tbo.com. Tampa Tribune. Archived from the original on May 24, 2015. Retrieved March 13, 2013.