History
During its more than 40-year history Anchor Animal Hospital has been providing excellent care to pets from New Bedford and Dartmouth. The hospital was founded in 1975 by Drs. Gerald Pietsch and Lawrence Shinnamon on the principles of pursuing continuing education and staying on the forefront of veterinary medicine. This is a tradition that Dr. Kate Pietsch has continued since she took over the practice in 2011.
To ensure Anchor maintains this standard of excellence we have been accredited member of the American Animal Hospital Association since 1980. This accreditation is only maintained by approximately 15% of veterinary hospitals and involves regular reviews and inspections to make sure that we meet high standards and keep abreast with the latest technology and techniques.
Some of the areas in which Anchor Animal Hospital is an industry leader include:
Dentistry: Dental care plays an important role in protecting pet’s overall health and Dr. Kate has ensured that all Doctors are trained on the most current dentistry and advanced techniques. This includes digital dental x-rays and a dedicated dentistry treatment area.
X-rays: X-rays have been standard equipment at Anchor Animal Hospital since it opened. The doctors and staff pride themselves on their ability to take and interpret x-rays. We also utilize a radiology referral service for more complex cases. This service allows us to utilize highly skilled radiologist to interpret x-rays and provide our doctors with a detailed report.
Ultrasound: Anchor Animal Hospital was one of the first veterinary hospitals in the South Coast of North Westport to bring ultrasound into veterinary practice. For more than 20 years we have been performing both abdominal ultrasound and echocardiograms (ultrasound of the heart).
Pain Management: Dr. Kate has a passion for advancing pain management and treatment of both acute and chronic pain in our pets. She has brought new pain control options to Anchor Animal Hospital, including laser therapy and acupuncture. She has received certification in both of these techniques and she is able to use them to help manage acute and chronic pain to promote healing.
What it means to be a team player at Anchor!
Being understanding and establishing a positive communication network helps build teamwork. Here at Anchor Animal Hospital, we are all team players; we are
Animal-lovers
Nurturing
Compassionate
Humane
Organized
Respectful!
Anchor prides itself in the “Team Approach” in patient and client care. Treating your pet(s) as if they are our own from the minute you walk through our doors!
All employees are required to attend continuing education and training opportunities here at the hospital and at conferences and seminars. Many of our employee have previous experience in the field of veterinary medicine or have attended accredited schools/programs. We have many certified technicians! Anchor also partners and participates with local schools by offering externships to attract new talent and invest in the future growth of our profession.
We also pride ourselves on working with local organizations, shelters, and rescues to embrace the human-animal bond.