Mobile Veterinarian Opening State-Of-The-Art Office In Brick

BRICK, NJ — When Dr. David Weiss first launched Furry Friends Mobile Vet in 2013, he put magnets on the side of his van to advertise the new business.

"People thought I was a groomer at first," Weiss said. His goal was to provide care for pets and families who became extremely stressed traveling to a veterinarian's office.

As the business has grown, Weiss has added more veterinarians to his staff and, about four years into offering mobile veterinary care, opened a brick-and-mortar clinic to provide in-office care.

Now Weiss has expanded again, moving Furry Friends Mobile Vet from a small clinic space to its new state-of-the-art facility on Brick Boulevard.

On July 17, the new expanded Furry Friends Veterinary Hospital opened for business.

On Saturday, Aug. 9 at 9 a.m. Weiss and his family and staff will mark the move into their new space with a grand opening celebration at the veterinary hospital at 580 Brick Blvd., behind the former Boston Market.

Weiss decided to change careers after working for more than 15 years as a pharmacist, and became a veterinarian in 2005. The mobile veterinary services arose out of a desire to reduce the stress for the animals and their families surrounding vet care.

"No more fighting the cat to get in the carrier, no more struggling with the dog, no more vomiting in the car, no more waiting rooms with other stressed animals and no more rushed 15-minute appointments," its website states.

The new veterinary hospital expands on that desire to reduce stress. There are separate entrances, separate reception areas, separate waiting rooms and separate treatment rooms for dogs and cats, and there is a separate space for families who are facing the difficult and painful decision to euthanize a beloved pet.

The new facility has suites where the staff of veterinarians can take X-rays, perform dental work and surgery. It replaces the smaller clinic space that had been half a mile farther south on Brick Boulevard.

The mobile veterinary services, which include in-home hospice and compassionate euthanasia, continue to be a staple of Furry Friends.

There are nine veterinarians on the staff including Weiss. The others are Dr. Michael Spataro; Dr. Damian Mazzocchi; Dr. Melissa Rahn; Dr. Dante Costagliola; Dr. Stacey Romano; Dr. Jason Fuchs, Dr. Samantha Sack, and Dr. Jennifer Vourlos. Spataro exclusively sees cats.

Spataro, Rahn, Sack, and Vourlos only see patients at the clinic.

The stationary clinic and the mobile services are available Mondays through Fridays 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. and on Saturdays from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. The service is closed on Sundays. They can be reached at 732-440-9311.

Note: This article has been updated to clarify that the new facility is not Furry Friends' first brick-and-mortar clinic and to clarify the date of the grand opening. Patch regrets the errors.