Why Dr. Danielle LaMarr went mobile
The hottest trend these days in vet med appears to be starting mobile veterinary services. This is most likely because of several factors, one being the student debt burden which makes it hard for recent grads to take on additional debt. According to the AVMA, in 2020, the average vet student debt was $188,853. Another study in 2018 found that the average debt for those students graduating from schools with higher tuition, like Ross University was $295,467. Logically, a veterinarian with student debt would be resistant to open a brick and mortar practice, since those have overhead expenses.
With a mobile practice, there is less overhead. Some veterinarians will even practice out of their own car. Simply put, being a mobile veterinarian is the perfect way to become your own boss and create your future without all the baggage that a brick and mortar facility brings.
Georgia veterinarian, Dr. Danielle (Dani) LaMarr was ahead of this trend. She started Pet Fixer Mobile Veterinary Service in 1998, shortly after graduating from Tuskegee University College of Veterinary Medicine. Although she started her career at the Atlanta Humane Society, she was soon inspired to take her medicine on the road, as a way of giving back to the community. One day while working at Atlanta Humane, she met. Helen, an elderly lady who smuggled her cat Felix to the vet in her purse after the taxi driver told her, “No cats allowed.” Helen didn’t have a choice: she lived in a retirement community, she did not drive, but she desperately needed medical attention for her furry friend. Dr. Dani had an epiphany and realized her future was helping people like Helen, who otherwise had limited choices for vet care. From that point on, the art and compassion of house calls were born.
Pet Fixer Mobile Veterinary Service started out of Dr. Dani’s personal car with medical bag in tow. It grew into a small van with an examination table, to what is now a full-service hospital on wheels equipped with a surgical suite, X-ray machine, and practically all of the luxuries and capabilities of a freestanding veterinary hospital – except this one stands in your driveway!
Dr. Dani has not stopped her efforts to reach out to the community. The Pet Fixer Mobile Hospital is often seen at local schools teaching children about veterinary medicine and the infinite possibilities awaiting them in the future. Dr. Dani is an active member of the American Veterinary Medical Association, Tuskegee Veterinary Medical Alumnae Association, and a Diamond Life member of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc..
Recently, Dr. Dani has expanded Pet Fixer’s accessibility with the option of virtual vet visits, making veterinary care even more accessible.
Dr. Dani strives to provide top-quality veterinary medicine – both mobile and virtual– in an environment everyone is most comfortable- their own home!
“Taking cats into a clinic is not always easy, many people have multiple pets, and many pets just do better at home. No more cages, no more long waits, no more mess in the car. I come to you and care for your pets needs from nose to wagging tail!”
Three reasons why Dr. Dani loves being mobile
1. Being able to help the community, especially elderly people who need our assistance.
2. Seeing the environment that the pet lives in can help make a diagnosis and help with pet care recommendations.
3. Being mobile means that I can help facilities that house multiple pets, like grooming and boarding facilities. The goal being able to do into the facility instead of having sick pets come into a clinic around healthy pets reduce the spread of an outbreak of a disease.
You can follow Dr. Dani’s journey on social media at @thepet.fixer