Newtown Business Spotlight: Newtown Veterinary Specialists

Every local business has a story worth sharing with the community. And that’s the belief behind this exciting series we’ve kicked off at Patch — to shine the spotlight on all our favorite local businesses, and to learn a little about the ones we may not know that well.

Business: Newtown Veterinary Specialists
Owners: Deb Weisman, DVM, MS, DACVS & Scott Schifilliti, MBA
Website: www.newtownvets.com
Address: 52 Church Hill Road, Newtown

How did you come up with the name?
Having a name that people can remember was very important to us…in an emergency the only thing most clients will remember is that we are in Newtown, so Newtown Veterinary Specialists was the perfect choice.

Why choose that location? Why start a business in this town?
Prior to choosing our location, a demographic study was performed. Based on the number of pet owners in the neighboring towns, we determined that the greater Danbury area was in need of Emergency and Specialty care. The close proximity to I-84 also made our Newtown location easily accessible to clients, especially important when their pet is experiencing a life-threatening emergency.

Briefly, what business are you in?
We are a 24-Hour Emergency & Specialty Veterinary Hospital

What’s the most difficult moment or challenge you’ve faced as a business owner?
Opening day was our most challenging day. We closed our previous location at 8am on Wednesday, May 9, 2012 and opened at 6pm that evening in Newtown. We moved all of our computers and equipment, and had all hands on deck to get supplies put away before opening that evening. Our first emergency walked in at 6:02pm and we’ve been open 24 hours ever since!

Were there any challenges that made you second guess your decision to be an entrepreneur?
Never. We truly love what we do, and there is no challenge that could keep us from caring for our patients and their families…it’s what we were meant to do.

What’s been your favorite moment or proudest achievement since opening?
There are so many it’s hard to choose…anytime a patient is able to go back to their family happy and healthy is a shining moment for us and they are all our proudest achievements.

What’s the most innovative idea your employees or customers have had that you put into practice?
Many businesses display artwork around their offices, but our employees wanted something that was special and had more meaning. Walking through the halls of NVS you will see photographs on many of the walls- each and every one of them is a patient of ours. As we see them every day, they remind us of the important work that we do here.

How do you deal with difficult customers?
We strive each day to offer world-class care to not only our patients, but to their families as well. Having a sick or injured pet is stressful and very difficult for our clients- we offer compassion and understanding and listen to their concerns. Working together is pertinent to their pets wellbeing and so we have made it our top priority.

How does your business give back or get involved in the community?
We sponsor and participate in many local events from the Newtown Labor Day Parade, to the grand opening of the Dog Park! We love getting out into the community and meeting our friends and neighbors!

Would you like to see your small business showcased in this series? Email wendy.mitchell@ patch.com.

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