45 Years of Care at VC Animal Hospital

Just off of the 303, there are a series of oversized paw prints leading inside one of Rockland’s most precious hidden gems. Inside the gray building lies the Valley Cottage Animal Hospital, a homey, brightly decorated veterinary office that will soon be celebrating 45 years of service to Rockland in the only way they know how – with their community. The RCT sat down with Sam Fiumara, the Assistant Hospital Manager, and Shannon Goldberg, the Practice Manager, to discuss what it is that sets VC Animal Hospital apart and what the two are looking forward to with the upcoming Open House. Of course, we also snuck in a little chit-chat about their own beloved furry friends. 

Fiumara and Goldberg’s office is a bubble of joy, resplendent with a pink fuzzy desk chair, a fish tank, plenty of Disney paraphernalia, and tongue in cheek quips plastered to the walls. It feels like the perfect representation of the two and the joy they bring to their work. The Open House the two are planning on May 18th from 11:00 a.m. – 2:00 p.m. is sure to be an extension of this coziness, Goldberg describing the event as an “…opportunity [for clients] to come and meet the doctors in a format where they’re not bringing their pet in for a scary procedure…Hopefully it bonds the current clients we have to us and also brings in some new clients.” 

The two are excited to give a behind the scenes glimpse to their clients. Fiumara will be giving tours and educating clients, sharing that due to the nature of the work she typically only gets to see clients once or twice a year. “I don’t think a lot of clients understand the full spectrum of what we’re able to offer here at the hospital… I’m really excited for them to learn a bit more about our staff,” said Fiumara. Goldberg nodded in agreement, sharing that she is also thrilled to be able to showcase what the hospital can do in a more relaxed environment, while also looking forward to having the opportunity to share how at the VC Animal Hospital, “We’re here for [clients] pets and to help them live long lives.”

The two are obvious animal lovers. Fiumara has a Husky-Shepherd pit mix named Pongo, two bonded cats named Coco and Binx, and a recently adopted three-legged cat who was rescued off of the NYS thruway. “She is the happiest little chickadee,” said Fiumara with a wide grin. “And her name is Pi because she has 3.14 legs!”. Goldberg has four of her own cats, Autumn, Sparkle, London and Shea, who Goldberg calls “our old lady cat – she’s 19 and still going pretty strong!”.

Goldberg has been working in veterinary medicine for 36 years, and Fiumara for almost 10. What sticks out for them is the across the board longevity amongst staff, something many medical professions have struggled with post-Covid. “Some of our doctors have been here longer than I’ve been alive,” said Fiurama.

Both Goldberg and Fiumara urge all animal lovers to be wary of listening to Dr. Google and TikTok. Just like in human medicine, animal medicine undergoes frequent advancements and changes, and people on the internet are not always who they say they are. “We offer what’s best for the pet based on the information we have from diagnostics and physical exams. The pets can’t talk and tell us what’s wrong. The biggest part of a doctor’s job is to rule out things and try and narrow down what’s really going on,” said Fiumara. This isn’t possible through a screen, and what works for one breed may be deadly for another. With doctors being mandated to re-up their licenses every three years, pet owners can rest assured knowing the doctors at VC Animal Hospital have their pets best interests at heart – which might not be true for a random TikToker who just looooves this new supplement. 

The hospital is also an American Animal Hospital Association, or AAHA, accredited hospital, 1 of the only 15% of AAHA accredited hospitals in the U.S. and Canada. This accreditation is voluntary, and consists of over 900 standards that must be met with accreditation taking place every three years. The VC Animal Hospital has proudly kept their accreditation since 1989. There are eleven doctors at the practice and 17 licensed vet techs, allowing them to have extended hours from 7:00 a.m. – 9:00 p.m. every day of the week. “We’ve kind of cornered the market in the nurse department,” stated Fiumara proudly, as the nursing staff at VC Animal Hospital is larger than any other small veterinary hospital in the county. 

At the Open House, there will be fun for every member of the family (including the four legged ones!). There will be educational seminars on conservative therapies such as acupuncture or cold laser therapy, first aid classes, exotic pets seminars, microchipping, dental care, face painting for the kids, raffles, and vendors giving away goodies. VC Animal Hospital has also teamed up with a local shelter to help provide opportunities for guests to return home with a new best friend. Learn more at valleycottageanimalhospital.com or by calling 845-268-9263, or follow the hospital @valleycottageanimalhospital.