UF Veterinary Hospital at World Equestrian Center to Launch 24/7 Small Animal Emergency Care
Beginning June 15, the University of Florida consolidates all of its Ocala small animal veterinary services under one roof — and makes round-the-clock emergency care available every day of the week.
GAINESVILLE, Fla. — Beginning June 15, the UF Veterinary Hospital at World Equestrian Center, known as WEC, will broaden its small animal clinical offerings to provide round-the-clock emergency care. The expansion brings all of the University of Florida's small animal veterinary services in Ocala together at a single, state-of-the-art location.
Pet owners will find the Ocala hospital easy to reach at the WEC, situated just off State Road 40 next to Barn W on the equestrian center grounds. The hospital is located at 1156 NW 81st Terrace Road.
Consolidating care under one roof
With this change, UF's Pet Emergency Treatment Services — known as UF PETS — will shut down its separate facility at 3200 SW 27th Ave. Doing so brings all of UF's small animal veterinary services in Ocala together in a single location at the UF Veterinary Hospital at WEC.
"Bringing our small animal clinical services under one roof is a transformative and meaningful chance to simplify how we deliver care in Ocala and grow our top-tier services to keep pace with the changing needs of the local community," said Dean Dana Zimmel, D.V.M. "We have a beautiful, cutting-edge facility at our Veterinary Hospital at WEC, and we're delighted to make small animal emergency care available 24 hours a day, seven days a week."
The transition timeline
UF PETS will close its doors at 8 a.m. on June 15, and 24/7 small animal emergency care will get underway at WEC at 5 p.m. the same day. The hospital's equine services will remain unchanged throughout the transition.
What pet owners need to know
- 24/7 small animal emergency care begins June 15 at 5 p.m. at the UF Veterinary Hospital at WEC.
- UF PETS at 3200 SW 27th Ave. closes permanently at 8 a.m. on June 15.
- New location: 1156 NW 81st Terrace Road, just off State Road 40 next to Barn W.
- The hospital's equine services continue without any changes.
The UF Veterinary Hospital at WEC — a one-of-a-kind, 40,000-square-foot facility — opened in May 2022 through a partnership created to better serve WEC visitors and address rising demand for veterinary care throughout the Ocala region.