Our Story

Founded in 2013 by Dr. Mara Ashby and her husband David Ashby with the goal of providing high quality care for pets in Waterloo. After working in universities, shelters, and general practices, Mara felt that she had to start her own practice from scratch to create a niche to deliver care in this area. With an uncle who was a vet, and a mother who was an economist, she had lots of family support but still found the development of the hospital to be a learning experience. In the first year, Mara discovered clicker training and the Fear FreeTM movement, leading to a special interest in cooperative care and animal behaviour that has led to the clinic becoming a Fear Free Certified Practice in 2021. Our online Myvetstore was a core element from our beginning, meaning that today 99% of our clients are members and it is a large, if virtual, part of our practice.