Since its opening almost two years ago, Passionate Paws has very quickly, not only made a name for itself in the local community, but more importantly, maintains an ever-growing list of loyal clients – both two- and four-legged. They are a self-described integrative hospital, providing western [surgeries, diagnostics, etc.] and eastern [acupuncture, chiropractic, etc.] medicine, rooted in evidence-based science. And with the recent hire of a new doctor, specializing in a niche class of animals, they stand to expand their service offerings even more.
The addition of Waxhaw resident Dr. Flavia Crovesi will allow Passionate Paws to offer continued veterinary services for both dogs and cats, but also the new class known as pocket pets. As the name indicates, these include smaller animals such as rabbits, hamsters, gerbils, ferrets, guinea pigs, and sugar gliders. The latter are essentially small, flying squirrels, and have really gained popularity in the local market in recent years.
Dr.Crovesi comes to the practice with an impressive background and resume that spans the globe. She experienced her formative years in South Korea, Venezuela, and St.Croix before her family settled down right here in Waxhaw, where she attended Marvin Ridge High school, and went on to receive her undergrad from UNC-Chapel Hill, and later her veterinary degree from Ross University. Her worldly travels and 100 percent Italian background afford her spoken fluency in Italian and Spanish, along with an intermediate proficiency in French. And it’s safe to say, she speaks “animal” with confidence and ease!
“After meeting her and seeing the similarities in her background and her strong desire to learn integrative medicine…just everything came into place. We couldn’t be more thrilled about her joining us!”, praised Hospital Administrator Stephen Bonilla.
Furthermore, Dr.Crovesi is Fear-Free Certified, which is a national certification program that Passionate Paws has recently undertaken, with the mission to provide a comfortable and fear-free environment for incoming pets. The program incorporates different methods to build trust among the animals, such as initial “loving sessions” just to get the pets used to the doctors and hospital without actual treatment; or offering high-reward treats like Easy Cheese [for dogs] and Vegemite [for cats] in a Kong that can be utilized during an actual exam.
“We work really hard at making sure all our pets feel loved and calm. From the way our practice looks, feels, and even smells. We found out about the program last year, and it was in line with what we were already doing,” described Bonilla.
Passionate Paws’ constant quest to provide the best care for its clients has resulted in a second annual consecutive win from the Charlotte Media Group’s Best of Weekly publication in the categories of Best Vet and Best Groomer. Give them a try and see for yourself why they’re making a real imprint and positive impact on our community!
