Blending Veterinary Skills
Drs. Shelby Young Goo, Katharine Millen, Katie Nakamura and Richard Fujie. Photo courtesy King Street Pet Hospital
If you’re an animal lover, you know how comforting it is to be able to put the utmost trust in your pet’s medical care provider.
King Street Pet Hospital has you and your furry friend covered with compassionate and comprehensive care.
“Our main specialty is small-animal medicine, and a wide variety of surgical procedures with convenience for clients in a clean, modern, medically professional environment,” says Dr. Richard Fujie, who opened the veterinary hospital along with Dr. Shelby Young Goo in September 2006.
“We decided to join forces and create a hospital, which would blend our diverse strengths,” says Goo, a Punahou graduate who furthered her education at University of Hawaii, Oregon State University and Colorado State University. “When the perfect property became available, we decided to take the plunge. The building previously housed a medical facility, so we were able to take advantage of the existing design and fixtures. With some renovations and new additions with help from family and friends, we were ready to open.”
King Street Pet Hospital’s primary patients are dogs and cats of all sorts and sizes, as well as small birds and pocket pets including rabbits, guinea pigs, chin-chillas, rats, mice and Jackson chameleons. With a total of four veterinarians on staff, each one brings different strengths to the practice, such as a broad range of wellness care from pediatrics to geriatrics, vaccinations, dental health, general surgical procedures, digital radiology and more. Two veterinarians also specialize in acupuncture treatment and holistic approaches associated with non-conventional medicine.
“Our philosophy has always been to offer the best customer service with integrity and honesty,” says Fujie, who has more than 20 years of experience in the veterinary field. “Warm, friendly service and fair fees are what we aim to provide. If we put our patients’ care first, then the rest will follow.”
Serving as a mentorship for up-and-coming veterinarians, King Street Pet Hospital hosts many volunteers who currently are enrolled in or have completed vet school.
“We are still growing, and we plan to add more staff and services for our patients,” Goo says. In the meantime, King Street Pet Hospital is in the process of remodeling its space and adding two consultation rooms for a total of six rooms.
“This will decrease the wait time for our patients to be seen. After that we are planning to remodel the treatment area to better serve our patients’ needs,” Fujie states.
Fujie adds that although hard work is involved in any business venture, the equation is simple: Have a vision and work hard to achieve it.
“Our success is attributed to the fact that both of us are conscientious and willing to work hard,” Goo says. “We have worked 14- to 16-hour days for a long time getting started. We recommend starting small and growing as the business grows.”
For more information on King Street Pet Hospital (located at 2016 S. King St.), call 951-7777 or visit kingstreetpethospital.com.
