History

   The founder of the four animal hospital members of the Veterinary Medical Group of Des Moines is Dr. M. E. (Marv) Johnson, a 1968 graduate of the College of Veterinary Medicine at Iowa State University.  He spent the first ten years of his veterinary medical career in South Bend, Indiana with the Roseland Animal Hospital, a small animal practice in that community.

   Dr. Johnson returned to Iowa in 1978 and opened the newly constructed Animal Medical Clinic of Merle Hay at 4520 Merle Hay Road.  Aspiring to deliver quality patient and client care, Dr. Johnson’s Animal Medical Clinic achieved accreditation by the American Animal Hospital Association in 1978.  Only 14% of all small animal hospitals and veterinary clinics in the United States achieve the accreditation.  The American Animal Hospital Association (AAHA) holds its member accredited hospitals to over 900 minimum standards of patient care and hospital operational standards.

 

   Recognizing a need for quality veterinary care in the rapidly growing western suburbs, Dr. Johnson opened the Animal Care Clinic West in the Clocktower Square Center at 2900 University in West Des Moines in 1983.  It was accredited by AAHA in 1984.  This animal hospital in West Des Moines was a pioneer in the Des Moines metroplex in that it was open 7 days a week, and had extended hours in the evening in recognition of the fact that convenience and access to an animal clinic in Des Moines was consistent with changing lifestyles and workstyles in the work place.

 

   Iowa’s first hospital for the care of cats was opened in 1995 as the Metro Cat Hospital of Des Moines.  Cat owning clients appreciated facilities and equipment specific to the needs of their pets and for the many clients owning both cats and dogs the cat clinic was located adjacent to the Animal Care Clinic West at 2900 University in the Clocktower Square Center.

 

   The Vista Veterinary Centre, opened in 2001, is located at 7205 Vista Drive in West Des Moines one-half block East of the West Des Moines Marriott on Vista Drive.  The Vista clinic serves many of the employees of the surrounding office parks as well as the growing residential population of that area.

 

   All of the member animal hospitals of the Veterinary Medical Group of Des Moines have high levels of facilities and medical equipment to serve the rapidly advancing and expanding technology available and necessary to serve the medical and surgical needs of our canine and feline patients.  These advanced technologies include laser surgery, ultrasound and radiology diagnostics, endoscopy, video otoscopy and digital dental radiography to facilitate quality dental medicine and surgery.

 

                                   

                                                   OUR MISSION

 

TO ENHANCE AND EXTEND THE BOND BETWEEN PETS AND THEIR PEOPLE.

 

OUR GOAL IS TO PROVIDE VETERINARY CARE THAT CONSISTENTLY EXCEEDS EXPECTATIONS.

 

WE BELIEVE THAT THIS LEVEL OF CARE CAN ONLY BE PROVIDED BY CONSIDERING THE UNIQUE NEEDS OF BOTH THE CLIENT AND THE PATIENT, AND BY SERVING OUR CLIENTS WITH MEDICAL AND SURGICAL EXCELLENCE, COURTESY, EFFICIENCY, AND ABOVE ALL, COMPASSION.

 

WE WILL STRIVE TO PROVIDE THE BEST POSSIBLE CLIENT EDUCATION, STRESSING THE IMPORTANCE OF PREVENTATIVE CARE FOR LIFE-LONG WELLNESS.