The second in our series on why you should trust Halifax with your pet’s care.
At Halifax Veterinary Centre, we recently celebrated more than 25 years of BESTPRACTICE® Hospital Standards accreditation – Halifax is one of just two veterinary practices at this
level of excellence. That’s a big point of difference, but it’s not the only one.
What’s at the Heart of What We Do?
Duncan, Tedi, and Hans at the groundbreaking of the current Halifax Veterinary Centre building.
When Tedi Busch joined Duncan Graham and me in partnership back in 1992, she suggested we spend a day with a business consultant to better understand how to work together. The consultant asked us a simple question:
“What is it that you do?”
Our first answer was, “We fix cats and dogs.”
But he pushed us deeper: “At the heart of it, what do you do?”
After much thought, we found the answer:
We serve the relationship people have with their pets.
That insight became our mission:
“We enrich our community by enhancing the relationship people enjoy with their pets – helping pets live happier, healthier, and longer lives.”
How This Shapes Our Care
This focus on relationships has influenced everything we do:
- Puppy Preschool: Duncan introduced the concept from California, and Halifax pioneered it in New Zealand.
- Transparency: We began giving clients full case notes after every visit – radical at the time!
- Openness: When we built Halifax Veterinary Centre in 1997, we designed it so clients could see into treatment areas and even watch surgery if they wished. Visiting hours became all open hours.
Hundreds of clients have appreciated being able to spend time with their hospitalised pets – and we know the pets benefit too.
Designing for Comfort
With relationships at the heart of our work, we designed consult rooms with lower tables so vets and clients sit together. This creates a relaxed environment that pets respond to. Many new clients say, “My pet has never been so relaxed at the vet before.”
Our architect, Ellen Brinkman, also helped us choose soothing colours and natural light for consulting rooms – small details that make a big difference for pets and people alike.
Why It Matters
All these features have stood the test of time, improving the experience for thousands of clients and their pets.
If you’ve appreciated these benefits, please recommend us to your pet-loving friends or leave a review on Google or Facebook. Your support helps us keep doing what we do best.
Warm regards,
Hans Andersen BVSc MANZCVS
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