Our Memorial Animal Hospital has evolved significantly since originally opening in the 1950s. Today, we are a close-knit team invested in our clients and our community, and we want to explain how a small mixed-animal practice grew into a state-of-the-art facility that meets every pet’s veterinary and boarding needs. 

Humble beginnings

Fred Banks received his Doctor of Veterinary Medicine (DVM) degree from Ohio State University (OSU) in 1953. He was born in Champion, Ohio, and decided to open his veterinary practice a few miles west in Kent. In 1966, Charles Beutel, DVM, another proud OSU graduate, joined the practice as a partner, and Banks and Beutel Veterinary Hospital, which was originally a single floor, concrete slab, bunker building with four examination rooms, was established. Drs. Banks and Beutel stayed busy treating pets and making farm calls to see large animals until the mid to late ’80s, when they decided to focus solely on cats and dogs to provide more comprehensive care to their community’s pets.

Time marches on

In the late ’90s, Dr. Banks retired. In 1998, Dr. Beutel hired Theresa Heibel, DVM, who was originally from outside Kansas City and a Kansas State University College of Veterinary Medicine 1995 graduate, as an associate. As a new veterinarian, Dr. Heibel had worked at a dairy and equine practice in upstate New York, but decided she preferred small animal medicine. She worked for two years in a small animal practice south of Canton, Ohio, before she met Dr. Beutel and decided to join his team. 

Dr. Beutel appreciated Dr. Heibel’s business ethics and her common sense, and when he started thinking about retiring, he decided he wanted her to take over the practice. Contracts were signed, and plans made for the transition, but Dr. Beutel passed away suddenly in fall 2002, and the timeline was accelerated. Fortunately, Dr. Beutel’s son, Jason, who had worked as his father’s assistant during college, was available to take over the practice manager role. Jason had handled a wide range of practice jobs, including ordering supplies and medications, information technology (IT) duties, inventory, and human resource responsibilities, and while his projected career path didn’t include working at his father’s practice, he decided to stay in the family business. Dr. Heibel changed the practice name to Memorial Animal Hospital to honor Dr. Beutel’s community service as an exceptional veterinarian. 

Growth and improvement

Business increased steadily, and Dr. Heibel knew the practice facility needed updating to meet demand. She also wanted a building that met the American Animal Hospital’s (AAHA) standards, so the team could seek the association’s accreditation. A new facility, which included eight exam rooms and state-of-the-art equipment, was built in 2013, and the Memorial Animal Hospital team knew they could provide professional, full-service care to the clients who had been so faithful for so many years.

The new facility offered many advancements, including:

  • AAHA accreditation — AAHA accreditation signifies that a veterinary practice meets or exceeds stringent quality standards that encompass all aspects of veterinary medicine, from pain management to medical-record keeping, and is committed to continuous improvement. AAHA accreditation is voluntary, and only 15% of veterinary hospitals in the U.S. and Canada are AAHA-accredited. Memorial Animal Hospital was the first AAHA-accredited practice in Portage county.
  • Feline Friendly — Memorial Animal Hospital is also certified as Feline Friendly by the American Association of Feline Practitioners, which means team members have participated in continuing education and learned in depth about feline behavior and cat-friendly techniques to provide elevated veterinary care to feline patients.
  • Bed and Biscuit — We know you worry about your pet when you have to travel without them, and Dr. Heibel wanted to include a boarding facility where pets would be in expert hands. Our Bed and Biscuit boarding facility offers standard dog runs, luxury dog rooms, and cat towers to keep your four-legged friend comfortable and happy while you are away.
  • On-site crematorium — Saying goodbye to a beloved pet is always difficult, but knowing your pet’s remains will be cared for with respect can provide some peace of mind. Our on-site crematorium provides our clients with this support during a painful time. 

Moving forward

Our Memorial Animal Hospital team has grown to four veterinarians and about 30 employees, many of whom have been here for 20 years or more. We are a familial, tight-knit group, led by Dr. Heibel, who carries on Drs. Banks and Beutel’s traditions and continues to move forward to ensure our medical care is as advanced and up-to-date as possible. Many of our clients have been with us since the practice started, and we are always pleased to care for their children’s and grandchildren’s pets. We love being part of this community, and we are always here for the clients who understand who we are and what we’re trying to do. Most of all, we want them to know how much we appreciate them. 

If your pet needs veterinary care, contact our Memorial Animal Hospital team. We will provide the exceptional care that has been our hallmark since the practice started.