Animal Emergency & Specialty Hospital - Byron Center
About Us
Our Mission
At Animal Emergency and Specialty Hospital, we strive to work collaboratively with our referring veterinarians, clients, and each other to be the preferred provider of emergency and critical care in West Michigan. We understand it is difficult not seeing your regular veterinarian when your beloved pet is not well. We've been open for more than 30 years, and are committed to assisting your veterinarian to provide comprehensive care 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, 365 days a year.
Learn more about our Doctors & Staff by clicking the link below!
Species Served
We provide emergency and urgent care for small animals, including most exotic pets. We care for birds, rabbits, ferrets, guinea pigs, chinchillas, sugar gliders, rats, hamsters, gerbils, hedgehogs, pot-bellied pigs, lizards, and snakes. Please call us if your pet is not on this list. Small exotic pets can become critical more quickly, so contact us right away if your pet is not acting normally.
What We Strive For
At the Animal Emergency and Specialty Hospital, our goal is to work with you and your veterinarian to provide the best emergency and critical care services for your pet. When your pet experiences an unexpected illness or injury, our staff of highly skilled veterinarians, technicians, and assistants are always prepared to provide your pet with compassionate care. We are committed to assisting your veterinarian to provide comprehensive care 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, 365 days a year. Whether your pet stays with us for hours or days, we will ensure your pet’s stay is as comfortable as possible. We serve communities throughout West Michigan, including Grand Rapids, Holland, Grand Haven, Muskegon, Newaygo, Ionia, Wayland, and all points between.
RECOVER (Reassessment Campaign on Veterinary Resuscitation) certification is divided into two parts:
Basic Life Support (BLS), which focuses on recognizing cardiopulmonary arrest (CPA), delivering effective chest compressions, mouth-to-snout or intubated ventilation, and adhering to the CPR 2-minute cycle.
Advanced Life Support (ALS), which covers the full RECOVER algorithm, including ECG and ETCO₂ monitoring, rhythm diagnosis, defibrillation, and emergency drug administration.
Training includes both an online course and in-person simulation labs using CPR mannequins and team-based emergency scenarios. It also emphasizes feedback techniques and closed-loop communication to sharpen team performance under pressure.
RECOVER in action:
Read Piper’s story, a powerful example of how RECOVER training helped save a life.
Learn more about the RECOVER Initiative here: https://recoverinitiative.org
Why does this matter?
In an emergency hospital setting, every second counts. Having a team of doctors, licensed technicians, and veterinary assistants trained in RECOVER protocols ensures we can respond immediately and effectively when a patient experiences cardiopulmonary arrest. This training directly supports our mission to deliver exceptional, life-saving care when pets need it most.
At Animal Emergency and Specialty Hospital, we are proud to have Fear Free Certified Professionals on our team!
The Fear Free program is designed to help veterinary professionals reduce fear, anxiety, and stress in pets, making their visits as comfortable and positive as possible.
To become certified, team members must complete a comprehensive online training program focused on emotional well-being, enrichment, and reducing fear-based responses in pets. Certified professionals are also required to complete continuing education and recertify annually to stay up to date with the latest techniques and strategies.
We believe that delivering exceptional medical care includes caring for our patients’ emotional health. Whether a pet is here for an emergency or specialty visit, our Fear Free approach helps us provide a calmer, safer experience for pets and their people.
Learn more about Fear Free here: https://fearfreepets.com/
