NICEVILLE, Fla. — The Emergency Veterinary Clinic of Niceville is celebrating its 30th anniversary this month, marking three decades of after-hours and emergency care for pets across the Emerald Coast. The milestone will be recognized on September 25, 2025.
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The clinic first opened its doors on September 25, 1995, founded by Dr John Fountain, Dr Philip Blumer, and Dr Jeff Waits, after recognizing a lack of emergency veterinary services for families in the region. Soon after opening, Hurricane Opal struck the Emerald Coast, damaging the building and forcing a temporary closure. The clinic reopened within weeks and has remained a trusted emergency resource for pet owners ever since.
Over time, the clinic expanded its reach. A second location opened in Destin in 2019 to better serve the southern portions of Okaloosa and Walton counties.
In Niceville, the clinic recently relocated to a new, larger facility at 203 Government Ave., offering state-of-the-art care in an upgraded space.
According to the Emergency Veterinary Clinic, its mission has always remained the same: to provide compassionate, expert care. One of the founding veterinarians, Dr Blumer, continues to practice at the Niceville location, and many team members have served for more than a decade, providing continuity and trusted relationships with generations of families.
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“I’ve seen all of the big changes, and it’s certainly much better than when we started with two veterinarians. We have an excellent staff who are very dedicated and help us take care of everything,” said Dr. Blumer.
“Emergency medicine is the thing to do. It challenges you, there’s something new every day, there’s always something interesting that comes in. Even though some of the cases are dreadful: cancer, horrific injuries, etc. It still challenges you each day to try and make things better.”
The Emergency Veterinary Clinic extended its thanks to pet owners in Okaloosa and Walton counties and across the Emerald Coast for their trust and support during the past 30 years. The team said they look forward to continuing to serve pets and families with compassion, dedication, and excellence.
The Emergency Veterinary Clinic of Niceville & Destin provides after-hours, emergency, and critical care for pets across the Emerald Coast. More information is available at www.emergencyvetniceville.com.
