Fairhaven Veterinary Hospital

What Fairhaven Veterinary Hospital does

Fairhaven Veterinary Hospital is an independently owned and operated full-service small animal veterinary hospital founded in February 1979 in the historic Fairhaven neighborhood of Bellingham, Washington. The practice is owned by Dr. Mark Kummer (Medical Director, joined 1995, co-owner since 1999) and Dr. Wendy Zawoysky (co-owner since 2013), following founder Dr. Dan Hall's retirement in August 2016. The hospital employs 28 people including 7 veterinarians and serves pet owners in Whatcom and Skagit counties across Washington State.

The hospital provides comprehensive veterinary care including wellness and vaccinations, laboratory diagnostics, dentistry and surgery, internal medicine, dermatology, senior care, pain management, therapy laser, digital radiology, ultrasound, cardiology, nutritional and behavioral consultations, and end-of-life services. The technology stack includes a Fuji digital radiology system, ultrasound equipment, Abaxis in-house lab processor, therapy laser, and dental radiology equipment, with reference lab integrations to Antech Diagnostics and Phoenix Labs. The practice holds Fear Free Certified Practice designation (23rd hospital nationwide, July 2018) and Cat Friendly Practice accreditation from AAFP, differentiating on low-stress handling and feline-specific care.

Revenue is generated primarily through professional services on a per-visit and per-procedure basis, with surgical pricing that bundles pre- and post-op pain medications. The hospital supplements revenue with third-party financing through Cherry Technologies (0% APR options) and extends its service reach through referral partnerships with board-certified specialists in cardiology, neurology, oncology, dermatology, surgery, rehabilitation, and emergency care. Marketing channels include the company website, blog, Instagram (fairhavenvet), and Facebook, with the local community reputation and Fear Free certification as primary acquisition drivers. The business operates from a single location closed on weekends, with no public funding, no PE/VC involvement, and no plans for multi-site expansion disclosed.

Name

Fairhaven Veterinary Hospital

Legal name

Fairhaven Veterinary Hospital

Website

https://fairhavenvet.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

1979

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

Fairhaven Veterinary Hospital is an independently owned, full-service small animal veterinary hospital in Bellingham, Washington, founded in 1979, serving pet owners across Whatcom and Skagit counties with 28 staff and 7 veterinarians, distinguished by Fear Free and Cat Friendly certifications.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Veterinary Services

NAICS

Veterinary Services (541940)

SIC

Services-Misc Health & Allied Services, Nec (8090)

akta.pro industry

PRIMARYHLAMAAAA

General Practice Veterinary Clinics (Wellness & Primary Care)

Healthcare & Life Sciences/Veterinary & Animal Health/Veterinary Clinical Services (Companion Animal)

SECONDARYAFAEANAG

Veterinary Imaging, Surgery & Specialty Referral Centers

Agriculture & Food Production/Animal Production & Aquaculture/Animal Health & Veterinary Services

Keywords

• Veterinary hospital services
• Small animal care
• Pet wellness care
• Veterinary diagnostics
• Pet surgery dentistry

Headquarters

HQ city

Bellingham

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Supply Chain, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D, Infrastructure

Revenue model

1. Veterinary Professional Services: Revenue generated from comprehensive veterinary care services including wellness exams, vaccinations, surgical procedures, dental services, diagnostics, and specialty referrals. Services are provided on a per-visit and per-procedure basis with pricing that includes pre- and post-op pain medications.
2. Payment Plans (Cherry): Third-party buy now, pay later payment option through Cherry Technologies, offering 0% APR options and interest-bearing plans to help clients manage costs of veterinary care over time.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

Fairhaven Veterinary Hospital is a full-service small animal veterinary hospital providing comprehensive medical, surgical, and dental care for dogs and cats in Whatcom and Skagit counties of Washington State. Core offerings include wellness exams, vaccinations, laboratory diagnostics, digital radiology, ultrasound, surgery, dentistry, internal medicine, dermatology, senior care, pain management, therapy laser treatment, and end-of-life services. The practice operates as a Fear Free Certified Hospital and Cat Friendly Practice, emphasizing low-stress handling and cooperative care.

Product overview

Fairhaven Veterinary Hospital is a full-service small animal veterinary hospital offering a comprehensive range of medical and surgical services for cats and dogs. The core service portfolio includes wellness and preventive care, laboratory diagnostics (utilizing both in-house Abaxis processing and external Antech Diagnostics and Phoenix Labs), digital radiology and ultrasound imaging, dentistry and surgical services, internal medicine, dermatology, senior care and pain management, and therapy laser treatments. The hospital operates as a Fear Free Certified Practice (the 23rd in the nation, achieved July 2018) and Cat Friendly Practice, emphasizing low-stress handling and behavioral health integration. Additional services include cardiology consultations, nutritional and behavioral consultations, end-of-life services, home euthanasia, dog training referrals, and grooming service referrals. Specialty and referral services connect clients to board-certified specialists in behavior, cardiology, dentistry, dermatology, internal medicine, neurology, oncology, ophthalmology, rehabilitation, and surgery. The hospital has been independently owned and operated since 1979, currently employing seven veterinarians and 28 total staff members.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Wellness and Vaccinations Preventive care services for dogs and cats including puppy and kitten health evaluations, adult preventive care, senior preventive care, comprehensive vaccination schedules, microchip placement, deworming, and medically necessary pedicures and anal gland evacuations. Offered to pet owners in Whatcom and Skagit counties.
• Laboratory Services In-house and external diagnostic laboratory services including urinalysis, blood chemistry and CBC analysis, histopathology, parasitology, and virology. Utilizes Abaxis in-house processor for rapid results, supplemented by Antech Diagnostics and Phoenix Labs external reference laboratories for comprehensive analysis.
• Dentistry and Surgical Services Comprehensive oral health services including dental radiography, complete oral health exam and treatment under anesthesia (COHAT), oral surgery and extractions. Surgical services include mass resections, abscess repairs, entropion correction, soft palate reduction, orthopedic procedures including cruciate ligament repair, and foreign body removal. Pre- and post-op pain medications are included in surgical pricing.
• Internal Medicine and Dermatology Medical services for chronic conditions including feline chronic renal disease, feline hyperthyroidism, canine and feline diabetes, Cushing's disease, oncology, and cardiology. Dermatology services cover ear inflammation, chronic pruritis, chronic infections, and allergies.
• Senior Care and Pain Management Specialized care for aging pets including arthritis management, mobility support, kidney and liver function monitoring, obesity management, and advancing dental disease care. Includes recommendations for senior diets, nutraceuticals, and NSAID therapies.
• Therapy Laser Non-invasive laser therapy using photobiomodulation to reduce inflammation, relieve pain, and accelerate healing. Treats conditions including sprains, wounds, post-surgical healing, dental inflammation, arthritis, fractures, and chronic skin conditions without medications or needles.
• Digital Radiology and Ultrasound Advanced imaging services using Fuji digital radiology system for high-quality bone and soft tissue visualization. Ultrasound technology for abdominal structures and cardiac evaluation, including cystocentesis for urine collection. Images generated within seconds and can be shared electronically with board-certified specialists.
• Nutritional and Behavioral Consultations Consultation services for diet selection based on age, activity, breed, and health concerns. Behavioral consultation addressing underlying medical components, modification plans, medication options, and referrals to training professionals or certified veterinary behaviorists.
• Cardiology Services Cardiac evaluation services provided in partnership with North Sound Veterinary Cardiology, including echocardiogram, EKG, and blood pressure assessment performed on-site at the hospital by Dr. Nicole LeBlanc, DVM, MS, DACVIM (Cardiology).
• End of Life Services Compassionate euthanasia services with private consultation rooms, IV catheter placement with sedation, and aftercare options including cremation and aquamation through Radiant Heart Pet Cremation and Memorials.
• Home Euthanasia Services In-home euthanasia services provided through partnerships with Cedar Grove Veterinary Housecalls and Madrona Veterinary Housecalls for pets that benefit from care in their home environment.

Named customers1 record

Segments2 records

Ideal customer profiles1 record

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration4 records

Feature5 records

Partnerships

Five partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• North Sound Veterinary CardiologycoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 July 2018Fairhaven Veterinary Hospital partners with Nicole LeBlanc, DVM, MS, DACVIM (Cardiology) of North Sound Veterinary Cardiology to provide complete cardiac evaluations including echocardiogram, EKG, and blood pressure testing on site at the hospital.
• Radiant Heart Pet Cremation & MemorialscoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership with local Bellingham-based pet cremation and aquamation service for end-of-life aftercare. Radiant Heart provides cremation and memorial services, contacting clients after the hospital arranges transport of deceased pets.
• River and Roots Veterinary RehabilitationminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorDr. Henderson of River and Roots Veterinary Rehabilitation serves as the hospital's primary referral for post-operative and supportive rehabilitation. Offers full rehabilitation treatments and acupuncture services in the comfort of clients' homes.
• Animal Emergency CareminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorAfter-hours emergency veterinary care provider in Bellingham (360-758-2200) for clients needing emergency services outside hospital operating hours.
• Pet Emergency CenterminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorAfter-hours emergency veterinary care provider in Mount Vernon (360-848-5911) for clients in the Skagit Valley area needing emergency services outside hospital operating hours.

Scale indicators5 records

Recent moves8 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Broad incumbents

• VCA Animal Hospitals: Largest U.S. network of veterinary hospitals (now part of Mars Petcare), offering general practice, specialty, and emergency care. Directly comparable on companion animal general practice services, but operates at massive scale with corporate infrastructure that Fairhaven cannot match.
• Banfield Pet Hospital: Nationwide companion animal general practice chain co-located primarily inside PetSmart stores. Competes for the same wellness/primary care segment but with standardized protocols, technology platforms, and weekend/evening hours that an independent practice must differentiate against.
• National Veterinary Associates (NVA): Large consolidator of independent veterinary hospitals across the U.S. A potential acquirer and direct competitor to independents like Fairhaven; many NVA hospitals operate as standalone community practices with similar service mixes.
• PetVet Care Centers: Network of companion animal general practice and specialty hospitals across multiple U.S. states. Comparable service mix (wellness, surgery, dentistry, internal medicine) and independent-feel branding, but with the backing of a corporate platform.
• AmeriVet Veterinary Partners: Acquisition-focused veterinary group partnering with general practice and specialty hospitals. Comparable offering to Fairhaven's core services and representative of the consolidator competitive pressure facing independents.
• BluePearl Pet Hospital: Specialty and emergency veterinary hospital chain. Comparable through the referral relationship Fairhaven already maintains, and represents the destination for the emergency cases that Fairhaven does not capture on weekends.
• MedVet: Specialty and emergency veterinary hospital network with locations across the U.S. Comparable through the referral ecosystem (specialty backup for general practice) and represents an alternative destination for the emergency cases that Fairhaven cannot capture on weekends.

Emerging players

• Bond Vet: Modern, technology-forward urban companion animal clinic chain offering walk-in appointments, transparent pricing, and extended hours. Represents the emerging competitive model that challenges traditional independent practices on convenience and digital experience.
• Small Door Veterinary: Membership-based companion animal veterinary practice with a tech-driven experience and design-forward clinics. Comparable to Fairhaven on clinical scope but differentiated by membership model, modern branding, and digital-first booking.

Direct peers

• Cedar Grove Veterinary Housecalls: Mobile/in-home veterinary care provider in the Bellingham area that Fairhaven directly refers clients to for home euthanasia and house-call needs. Closest operational peer in the same geography, competing for some of the same pet owner relationships.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Facebookfacebook.com/Fairhaven.Veterinary.Hospital
• Instagraminstagram.com/fairhavenvet
• Xx.com/fairhavenvet
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/fairhaven-vet-hospital

Compliance2 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles7 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Fairhaven Veterinary Hospital