Our History

We've been serving the Santa Monica community for over 50 years, and while our facility and staff members have changed, our commitment to excellence certainly hasn't. We're proud of the state-of-the-art, AAHA-accredited center we have become today, and we look forward to serving many more pet families well into the future.

How We've Grown

Our journey began in 1962 as the first female veterinarian-owned and operated animal hospital in California. In 1973, Dr. Marilyn Twitchell handed the reins over to Dr. Walter Holtan who, along with his wife Dr. Patricia Hayes, helped grow the practice from a one-doctor hospital to a bustling three-doctor hospital over the next 30 years.

​​​​​​​Dr. Holtan's daughter Kirstin took over practice management in 1996 to allow for his semi-retirement. Kirstin and her husband Mark purchased the practice in 2011. After purchasing the practice they completely remodeled the building, added new equipment and capabilities, and continue to invest in advanced technology to support quality care.

We're proud of the experience and expertise our veterinary team brings to the community. Maintaining a family-friendly atmosphere and small-town-vet feel is important to us and we know how important it is to you, too.

What We Bring to the Table

We're proud of our capable, passionate team of animal caregivers and medical experts. Our Medical team is led by our Medical Director Dr. Reshma Bijlani, Dr. Anthony George, a certified acupuncturist, and Dr. Annie Hernandez, who is accomplished in the area of internal medicine. Our senior team of doctors are highly regarded in the area.

In addition to our remarkable staff, Santa Monica Pet Medical Center has long been involved with the community. We support various rescue organizations and pet adoption centers and are always on the lookout for new opportunities to help.

For more than half a century, our animal hospital has been a place where pets and people cultivate lasting friendships. We're committed to keeping it that way and continuing our tradition as "your other family doctor."

Our Hospital is AAHA Accredited

We're always looking for new ways to give pets and their owners a stellar experience at Santa Monica Pet Medical Center. Therefore, we decided to seek accreditation with the American Animal Hospital Association. As an AAHA-accredited animal hospital, we offer much more than your average practice. All of our veterinarians and supporting team members are compliant with AAHA guidelines, holding ourselves to the highest possible standards in veterinary care.
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View Our Gallery

If you're new to the area and looking for a new vet, get a sneak peek at our state-of-the-art facility before you visit. Take a minute to view our gallery and be sure to give us a call when you're ready to make an appointment!
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