Lovet expands affordable veterinary care model with fourth Grand Rapids clinic

Describing itself as a new kind of veterinary care that is designed to be more affordable, Lovet Pet Health Care recently opened a new clinic at 1935 Breton Road SE, its fourth veterinary clinic in the Grand Rapids area.

The Chicago-based veterinary chain says it’s on a mission to make it easier for pets to stay healthy and for pet owners to get the support and guidance they need every step of the way. 

Since opening its first Grand Rapids hospital in April, Lovet veterinarians have cared for more than 2,200 pets and welcomed 1,900 new pet owners across the community, earning an average 4.8-star rating on Google

The Lovett hospitals offer comprehensive, full-service veterinary care from urgent needs to preventative care in state-of-the-art facilities. In-house x-rays and diagnostics powered by AI-enabled technology allow clinicians to run tests and deliver answers quickly and accurately. Lovet’s flexible scheduling and weekend hours make it easier to get the care their pets need, when they need it.

The other Grand Rapids-area Lovet hospitals are located at:

• 3500 Alpine Ave. NW
• 2135 East Beltline Ave. NE
• 4290 Lake Michigan Drive NW

Lovet is hiring veterinarians, veterinary technicians, and support staff across all four Grand Rapids locations, creating opportunities for about 50 local team members. 

The company began with a network of 23 animal hospitals in the Phoenix area before starting a nationwide expansion with the launch of its flagship location in Chicago in December 2024. Lovet now has 28 locations across three states.

Lovet is part of the TAG The Aspen Group (TAG). The Chicago-based retail healthcare business has a workforce of 20,000 at more than 1,300 health and wellness offices across 46 states in four categories: dental care, urgent care, medical aesthetics, and animal health. The brands include Aspen Dental, ClearChoice Dental Implant Centers, WellNow Urgent Care, Chapter Aesthetic Studio and Lovet Pet Health Care. 

Rapid Growth caught up with Courtney Gruber, president of Lovet Pet Health Care, to learn more about this model of veterinary medicine and why West Michigan is part of its initial rollout. 

Rapid Growth: What inspired Lovet’s creation, and what problems in traditional vet care were you hoping to solve when the company first got started?

Courtney Gruber: Lovet Pet Health Care builds on a 40-year legacy with a mission to make high-quality veterinary care more accessible to pet parents across every stage of their pet’s life. Over the years, we’ve seen how difficult it can be for pet parents to find convenient, full-service care that works with their schedules and provides financial flexibility. We’re now bringing the experience we built on these insights to pet parents outside of Arizona, where we were founded.

Our 2025 Lovet Checkup Report, a study we commissioned to better understand the realities of pet health and access across the U.S., looked at trends both nationally and regionally. In Michigan, 44% of pet owners surveyed said rising veterinary costs have caused them to delay or skip care for their pet in the past 12 months, even as 87% of Michigan pet parents reported that having a pet positively impacts their mental and emotional well-being.

These findings reflect exactly why Lovet was created: to make high-quality, compassionate veterinary care easier to access for every pet-loving family. 

RG: What made Grand Rapids the right place for Lovet to expand so quickly, and what do you hope local pet parents notice first when they visit one of your new hospitals?

CG: Grand Rapids is the type of community where Lovet can make a meaningful impact. While pet ownership remains strong, rising veterinary and pet-care costs have made access to high-quality care more challenging for many families. Expanding in Michigan allows Lovet to bring its 40-year legacy of full-service veterinary medicine to more pet parents at a time when convenience and financial flexibility are especially important. Our rapid growth in the region reflects our mission to expand access to expert veterinary care through new hospitals, local hiring, and a model designed to reduce financial and logistical barriers.

Our hospitals are also designed to reduce stress for both pets and their families. Working with Arcadis, a global architecture and design firm, we built and tested multiple room prototypes to optimize layout, patient flow, and clinical efficiency. Every element of the space—from the lobby to exam rooms and treatment areas—was developed to support a smoother, more comfortable visit and to help teams deliver care more effectively.

Equally important is the team delivering that care. Our Michigan hospitals are led by warm, compassionate staff who pair their empathy with knowledgeable, expert care.

Families in Grand Rapids will experience these design choices firsthand as well as the knowledgeable, compassionate care our teams are known for. Our hope is that the hospitals feel easier to navigate while creating a more comfortable, approachable experience.

RG: Vet visits can be stressful and expensive. How does Lovet’s model make care easier, more affordable, and less overwhelming for pets and their humans?

CG: Lovet’s model is built to reduce financial and logistical barriers so families can access the care their pets need without added strain. Through our Lovet Essentials plan, an annual primary-care plan paid monthly, pet parents receive bundled routine wellness services in one predictable care plan. The plan includes free unlimited exams, core vaccines, a diagnostic panel, and a choice of dental cleaning or spay/neuter, helping families stay ahead of preventive care while managing costs more easily.

We offer flexible payment options, including Lovet Pay, our payment plan with 99% approval rates and interest-free choices that help pet parents manage costs without delaying care. We also accept CareCredit and Afterpay, giving families even more flexibility when unexpected needs arise.

Lastly, Lovet offers a first exam free for all new clients to ensure pets can be seen quickly and establish a healthy baseline. And because schedules can be unpredictable, our hospitals offer same-day appointments and weekend hours.

Together, these offerings help ensure families don’t have to make difficult tradeoffs and can prioritize their pets’ health with confidence.

RG: Lovet talks a lot about supporting its veterinarians. How does Lovet train and care for its clinical teams, and how does that support translate into better experiences for pets and families?

CG: Lovet fosters a values-driven workplace where mentorship, continuing education, and long-term professional growth are prioritized alongside personal well-being. Our learning and development programs, flexible scheduling, and support for major life and career milestones help ensure that team members can thrive at every stage, both professionally and personally. This commitment to ongoing training builds deep clinical expertise that directly benefits the pets we serve.

We also recognize the unique mental-health challenges within the veterinary field and provide resources, counseling access, and a culture that encourages openness and balance. This foundation has contributed to exceptional team stability. In fact, 69% of Lovet veterinarians have spent their entire career within the network, and 78% have spent at least 75% of their careers here. That level of consistency creates highly collaborative teams who draw on their combined knowledge and experience to diagnose and develop treatment plans for your pets. 

RG: You’ve already partnered with local organizations like the Humane Society. How does Lovet plan to stay connected to the Grand Rapids pet community?

CG: Community connection is a core part of Lovet’s identity. As we continue to grow in Grand Rapids, we’re intentional about engaging with organizations that support local pets and families. That includes our relationship with Humane Society of West Michigan, and we were proud to join their Humane Hustle event in November as the Pet First Aid Tent sponsor, where we encouraged pet parents to build their own first aid kits –  reinforcing Lovet’s mission to make pet care education, preparedness, and access more approachable for families across West Michigan.

More broadly, our focus is on investing in the regional pet-care ecosystem through local hiring, partnerships, and support for organizations serving this community. While specific initiatives will continue to evolve, our intention is to be a consistent, reliable presence for Grand Rapids pet parents as our footprint expands.