When Ian, a Category 5 Atlantic hurricane, ripped through Southwest Florida in September 2022, VCA Sanibel Animal Hospital was in its direct path. Thankfully, no people or pets were at the hospital so there were no injuries, but VCA Sanibel was heavily damaged.
On June 10, the newly rebuilt hospital reopened its doors, welcoming patients back after one and a half years of construction.
The new state-of-the-art hospital, expanded to include 4,100 square feet and additional services, is the culmination of service excellence and gradual expansion to better serve patients.
A Long History of World-Class Medicine
VCA Sanibel opened in 1965 as a small satellite clinic to Coral Veterinary Clinic. It was established to serve the residents of Sanibel and Captiva Islands. Initially an outpatient wellness center with limited hours, it quickly became a beloved resource for local pet owners.
In 2008, Dr. Dave Nichols and his wife Jennifer acquired the clinic from its original owner, and by 2017, as Dr. Nichols considered retirement, they sold both clinics to VCA. Jennifer felt an immediate connection with VCA's team, appreciating their commitment to continuity and quality care.
Under VCA's ownership, the clinic expanded services and added a full-time medical director, allowing clients to access advanced care locally. As demand grew, VCA began plans for a larger facility, purchasing new property in November 2020 and securing building permits in August 2022, just months before Hurricane Ian impacted the area.
Remembering Hurricane Ian
“Since hurricanes are common in this area, we had begun preparing for Ian about a week in advance,” remembers Lisa Gillespie, regional operations director for VCA. “We had already planned to close our hospitals in the affected area early that day [September 23]. VCA Sanibel was built eight feet off the ground, so we were pretty confident it would be safe from flooding. We planned to be back open and caring for patients the following Friday. But by the next morning, it was obvious that it was going to be a life-changing event.”
Hurricane Ian would become the deadliest hurricane to strike the state of Florida since 1935 and the third costliest weather disaster on record worldwide, and Sanibel Island was one of the areas hit especially hard.
Despite communication challenges and power outages, Associates from the five impacted VCA hospitals (VCA Baywood and VCA Chiquita in Cape Coral and VCA Coral Animal Hospital and VCA Miracle Mile in Fort Myers) set up “phone trees” in the storm’s aftermath to check in on each other. While many Associates suffered devastating property loss, miraculously, none were seriously injured.
Lisa immediately sprang into action to coordinate support for impacted Associates. VCA sent supplies, and hubs were set up so that Associates could access necessities. Although none of the VCA hospitals in the area had electricity for several days, Associates came together to begin the clean-up process and help pets impacted by the storm as best they could.
“The coming together of our Associates—locally and across VCA—is something I will never forget,” says Lisa. “It gave us all hope in the face of such tremendous loss.”
Four of the impacted hospitals including VCA Coral were up and running within 10 days of the hurricane hitting. VCA Sanibel would have a longer wait.
State-of-the-Art Reopening
Fortunately, a permit was obtained to begin construction on the new facility before the hurricane hit, allowing the rebuild to start soon after the Sanibel Causeway reopened, and materials could be brought in. In the meantime, patients were transferred to nearby VCA Coral, where many familiar VCA Sanibel Associates—Jennifer included—welcomed them with open arms.
While the continuity of care helped ease the transition to VCA Coral, VCA Sanibel patients were thrilled when it was announced that their new hospital would open on June 10, 2024.
In addition to quadrupling its square footage, the new state-of-the-art hospital features updated services including dentistry, grooming, ultrasound and cold laser.
“We had three dental procedures in our first week after reopening, and our surgery schedule was completely full for the first two weeks,” says Jennifer.
The reopening was celebrated with an official ribbon cutting celebration on June 25. Attendees included clients, community members, representatives from local shelters and longtime partner Clinic for the Rehabilitation of Wildlife, Sanibel & Captiva Islands Chamber of Commerce, hospital architect Amy Nowacki and builder Eric Grenier from EG Construction, Associates from the other four Southwest Florida VCA hospitals and many others.
The new hospital was dedicated in honor of Jennifer and Dr. Dave Nichols, with a plaque that pays tribute to their “selfless commitment to Sanibel,” and “caring legacy.”
In her remarks, Lisa thanked VCA and Mars Petcare Family of Associates as well as the community, “Your resilience and support have been the bedrock of inspiration in our recovery efforts. Together, we are stronger, and together, we will continue to provide the best possible care for our beloved pets.”
For nearly 50 years and counting, VCA Sanibel Animal Hospital has ensured that patients receive the best in preventive and healing care. Combining advanced technology with a hometown feel, the hospital embodies VCA’s heartfelt dedication to serving our clients and their pets. Learn more about VCA Sanibel's commitment to care.
