The New Year is upon us and the first weeks have been somewhat full with the Pet Partners Annual Leadership Meeting in Baltimore just after the New Year and the NAVC in Orlando this past weekend into this past week. In all a lot is happening and it is all good. The Baltimore Meeting was highlighted by Jon Ayers, Chairman, CEO and President of IDEXX Laboratories, Inc. His most informative talk to the entire team on Friday morning was not only enlightening about the “New Normal” it was totally in sync with what we at Pet Partners believe and work on every day. The address was well received and led to many questions regarding what we all realize is the “New Normal” for veterinary medicine and also life in general.

On reflection, 2011 has been a very positive year for our growing organization. With the addition of five new affiliated hospitals, Pet Partners has weathered the economic challenges of this period in very favorable condition. With top class medicine prevailing and revenue and profits continuing to grow we all take a moment to reach out and thank those who work so hard at the practice level for their skill, tenacity, work ethic and dedication to the pets and owners in their respective communities. I have just returned from Lafayette, IN, where we have added Paw Prints Animal Hospital to our family. I welcome Dr. John Griese and his fine staff and our new Practice Manager Alicia (Piper) Kuebler. The transition team has had a fun few days interacting with the doctors and staff at Paw Prints and we all look forward to a long and prosperous relationship. Welcome John and Alicia and the entire team.

Over the past two months Pet Partners has added three very nice hospitals to its family. With the addition of the Center for Animal Referral and Emergency Services in Langhorne, PA , this organization has taken it first step into emergency and specialty veterinary medicine.

When it comes to the people who make up our Pet Partners teams there is no more of an understated leader and team than the team at Southern Tier Veterinary Associates in Vestal, NY. This past month when the East coast was hit first with a hurricane and then in the next week hit with more rain than the rivers could handle this practice located in the New York Southern Tier was set in the middle of one of the worst floods to hit the area in many years (see image at the bottom of this blog post). Vestal, NY sits along the Susquehanna River as a suburb of Binghamton. Vestal Parkway parallels the River and on this plain exists a number of commercial businesses, the State University of New York at Binghamton and at one end the Southern Tier Veterinary Associates, one of our top affiliated hospitals.

Business is booming or better said we are working harder than ever to provide good business services. I am proud that we are able to give raises this year, but with the current environment everyone, including me, is being asked to do more. It appears to be the state of the world but compared to other industries and businesses we are blessed. People are still taking care of their pets. And we at Pet Partners continue to strive to provide the best veterinary care and service possible with the outcome of achieving good veterinary business results. We have a new awareness and new sensitivities in a changing marketplace and we are responding and seeing favorable results.