Focused on Care: Inside the Ophthalmology Training Program at Animal Vision Center of Virginia
At Animal Vision Center of Virginia, specialized eye care for animals goes together with mentorship, collaboration and a deep sense of purpose. In this Q&A, we hear from Dr. Sydney Hall, who recently completed her internship and is now a first-year Ophthalmology Resident, and Dr. Victoria Perez, currently in her third and [READ MORE]
History Meets Modern Care at Animal Vision Center of Virginia
At Animal Vision Center of Virginia, we’re proud to offer advanced animal eye care in the historic Pembroke Manor House. Explore how we blend modern veterinary services with the charm and legacy of this Virginia Beach landmark.
Meet Mr. Whiskers
If you’ve visited our Pembroke Manor House, you may have met Mr. Whiskers—the Maine Coon with a personality as impressive as his fluffy coat. Maine Coons are charming and gentle, but also prone to eye issues such as conjunctivitis, entropion, and cataracts. Learn how the Animal Vision Center of Virginia supports feline eye health and what signs to watch for in your own furry friend.
Convergence of Community and Care Help Rescued Dog See a Better Life
By Dr. Heather Brookshire
When it comes to helping animals in desperate situations, it often takes a village—communities, volunteers and medical professionals—working together to create change.
This certainly was the case for a dog we treated recently at Animal Vision Center of Virginia, through the efforts of a colleague, Dr. [READ MORE]
What Does a Licensed Vet Tech in Ophthalmology Do?
Curious about the role of a Licensed Veterinary Technician in the field of Veterinary Ophthalmology? In this feature, we spotlight two of our LVTs who work closely with veterinary ophthalmologists to ensure the best outcomes for their patients. At Animal Vision Center of Virginia, we are lucky to have two exceptional team members, Jason Ball and Jessica Turman, whose expertise and passion play a crucial role in the care of our furry patients.
AVCVA office manager has a passion for pets—and this practice!
Many pet parents know Melissa Noblett as the “face” of Animal Vision Center of Virginia. As the practice office manager, she makes certain that every visit is a pleasant experience and that they leave with a clear understanding of the treatment plan and future goals. Coastal Virginia’s veterinary [READ MORE]
Helping Service and Working Animals See a Better Life
Since opening Animal Vision Center of Virginia in 2015, Dr. Heather Brookshire has offered free eye-screening exams year-round for service and working animals in Hampton Roads. She has a passion for these furry companions that assist people with daily living needs, as well as working animals that support police and rescue [READ MORE]
Gifting local shelters for the holidays
Helping our region’s homeless pets is one of the greatest gifts you can give
Amid this holiday season and your search for gifts to suit family, friends and pets, we hope you will consider supporting animal shelters, SPCAs and animal rescue organizations here in Hampton Roads. [READ MORE]
Cataracts and Other Common Eye Issues in Senior Dogs
Just like human eyes, dogs’ eyes change as they age. These changes can be concerning for pet parents when they see a difference in the appearance of their dogs’ eyes. Or, if they notice other signs, such as squinting, scratching or pawing at the eye and bumping into objects at [READ MORE]
On the Air with WHRO Public Media News Week
Thank you to Doug Boynton and WHRO Public Media for inviting Dr. Brookshire to talk about National Service Animal Eye Examination Month free eye screenings on their “News Week” audio news magazine. The program is part of The WHRO Voice, featuring programming specifically designed for and primarily directed [READ MORE]
This Volunteer Raises Puppies with a Purpose
By Heather Brookshire, DVM, DAVCO
By day Nicole Ballard works with animals as a licensed veterinary technician with Coastal Virginia Veterinary Dermatology. Off the job, she is a foster rock star, volunteering her time fostering and training [READ MORE]
Not One More Vet. My Community’s Hope for 2022
By Heather Brookshire, DVM, DAVCO
Not one more vet. This was Dr. Nichol McArthur’s vision when she created the veterinary support group NOMV in 2014. Following the death from suicide of the renowned veterinarian Dr. Sophie Yin, Dr. McArthur formed a closed Facebook group [READ MORE]
Interest in eyes leads to fulfilling profession for Dr. Amanda Romaneck
It was a college lecture that first drew Dr. Amanda Romaneck into the field of veterinary ophthalmology, and she’s been learning, teaching—and now practicing—ever since. As a specialty ophthalmology intern (and soon-to-be resident) with Animal Vision Center of Virginia, she assists Dr. Heather Brookshire with patient exams and [READ MORE]
Meet Juleen Ballance, a Caring Advocate for Virginia Beach Shelter Pets
How do you care for 300 animals of all shapes and sizes under one roof? With care and coordination, according to Juleen Ballance, the shelter manager for the Virginia Beach Animal [READ MORE]
Improving Pet Vision is a Passion for Dr. Taylor Belk
Have you met Dr. Taylor Belk? Animal lover, bird watcher and Bulldogs fan, she recently relocated to Virginia Beach to join Animal Vision Center of Virginia (AVCVA) for a three-year ophthalmology residency.
Originally from Macon, Ga., she holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Forest Resources and a Doctor [READ MORE]
Congratulations Dr. Heather!
We are so proud of Dr. Heather Brookshire. Last month, Inside Business magazine named her as one of Hampton Roads’ top Women in Business for 2020. These awards celebrate women who are successful in their business and careers, while serving as mentors to others and volunteering in their community. It’s no surprise [READ MORE]
August is “Clear the Shelters” Month
Do you long to adopt all the animals that need forever homes? We feel the same way, and the time is near to show a little love to our region’s shelter and rescue pets. From Aug. 1-31, 2020, animal shelters across the country will be teaming up with NBC and [READ MORE]
When It Comes to Caring for Feral Cats, Vaida Moore is a FAN
Vaida Moore founded the Feral Affairs Network (FAN) in 2016 to help address the problem of overpopulation of community cats in Hampton Roads. The nonprofit organization’s primary goal is to trap-neuter-return (TNR) feral or community cats to their environment, while providing support to their caretakers in need. Ultimately, this results [READ MORE]
Saving One Dog at a Time – Meet Dr. Turkan Ertugrul
Dr. Turkan Ertugrul wants to save all the dogs and cats she can. The founder of the Virginia Beach-based Saver of Souls Pet Rescue, she is slowly, but surely making a dent in [READ MORE]
Saving Lives, One Pet at a Time
This week is National Animal Shelter and Rescue Appreciation Week, honoring these safe havens for animals and the wonderful people who work there. At AVCVA, we love partnering with our local shelters and rescue groups by providing eye screenings and care to those with ocular issues. There are ways that [READ MORE]
People Helping Animals – Meet Madison Rankin of Compassion for Canines
At Animal Vision Center of Virginia, we love working with local animal support groups. In Hampton Roads, we are fortunate to have a variety of animal advocacy nonprofits, from ones that provide wildlife rehabilitation services to [READ MORE]
The Role of Therapy Dogs in Times of Tragedy
In a local news article covering the mass shooting at the Virginia Beach municipal center, I read that the City of Virginia Beach arranged for therapy dogs to be on site for employees to connect with in the days following the tragedy.
It’s amazing how therapeutic petting a dog can be [READ MORE]
Helping Hard-working Service and Therapy Animals See Clearly
While dogs don’t wear glasses, they do need to have their eyes checked regularly, especially if they are a registered service or therapy animal. May is National Service Dog Eye Examination Month, and many board-certified diplomats of the American College of Veterinary Ophthalmologists, like me, will offer free screenings [READ MORE]
Presidential Pets
President’s Day seems the perfect holiday to honor the pets that accompanied their respective Commanders in Chief to Washington, D.C. After all, how many animals can claim an extended stay in the most famous American residence of all? From George Washington, who brought Snipe the parrot (and an array of [READ MORE]
Welcome to our Blog!
I couldn’t have asked for a better job. I love what I do and look forward to coming to work each and every day. Seeing our pet patients, meeting their owners and conferring with their family veterinarians are the most gratifying aspects of owning and operating Animal Vision Center of [READ MORE]
