When it comes to our pets, we don’t want to compromise their health. We want expert care, genuine compassion, and a veterinary team that treats our pets like family.
What began in 1987 as a one-doctor facility — in a converted home — has grown into a full-service, state-of-the-art animal hospital known for both medical excellence and heartfelt care. Founded by the late Dr. Robert Harris, the Pitman Animal Hospital today boasts a six-doctor team offering a wide range of specialties, from soft-tissue surgery and animal dentistry to geriatric care and holistic treatments such as chiropractic therapy and acupuncture.
At the helm is Dr. Sabra Olsen, a Doctor of Veterinary Medicine, who joined the practice in 2007 and is now a co-owner.
Dr. Harris died last September, but his commitment to professional excellence, community service, and compassionate care for animals continues through the team at the Pitman Animal Hospital.
Dr. Harris founded the hospital as a sole practitioner, Dr. Olsen notes, but he made the intentional decision not to name it after himself, instead focusing on creating a place defined by quality care and commitment to animals. He “helped to shape and build the practice into what it is today, becoming a pillar of the community and creating a place where people want to bring their animals,” Dr. Olsen says.
“Our goal is to partner with our clients to support their pet’s lifelong health journey,” says Dr. Olsen. “As a multi-doctor practice, we’re able to work together to provide comprehensive care for pets at all life stages.” They also focus on educating people about their pet’s care to help them understand their pet’s situation and determine the best course of treatment in each case.
A native of Ponca City, Oklahoma, Dr. Olsen grew up on a small farm. She has always loved working with animals and says she was the typical child who wanted to be a vet. “I was fascinated with animals and how their body systems work and the science behind it,” she recalls. She earned her undergraduate degree from Oklahoma State University in Animal Science in 1998 and received her Doctorate of Veterinary Medicine from Oklahoma State University College of Veterinary Medicine in 2001. As a former mixed animal practitioner, she has treated a variety of animals, including alpacas, birds, hamsters, horses, pot-bellied pigs, and rats. Her diverse cases sharpened her keen problem-solving ability and pushed her to learn quickly and build confidence across many areas in a short amount of time. Ultimately, the experience made her realize she prefers focusing deeply, rather than broadly, which led her to transition to small animal practice where she could concentrate on dogs and cats.
“The place just had a warm, homey feel to it,” said Dr. Sabra Olsen, a Doctor Of Veterinary Medicine, who joined Pitman Animal Hospital in 2007. She is now co-owner of the hospital that boasts a six-doctor team offering a wide range of specialties.
After meeting her husband, Brian, online playing World of Warcraft while she was living in Texas, Dr. Olsen decided to look for a practice that was more central for both of them. Brian is a native of Brooklyn, N.Y.
She came across a job listing for Pitman Animal Hospital. After interviewing with and getting a job offer from Dr. Harris, she made the move to New Jersey.
“I liked the small-town feel of the animal hospital and was attracted to the idea of working with multiple vets who could work as a team and bounce ideas off of each other, as well as share expertise about different specialties,” says Dr. Olsen. “The place just had a warm, homey feel to it.”
Now her husband is also the practice manager of the hospital, overseeing the day-to-day operations, including finances, payroll, Human Resources, and overall workflow.
Brian has always been an animal lover. He grew up with cats and dogs, so caring for animals has been a constant in his life.
Dr. Olsen and her team continue to build upon Dr. Harris’ philanthropic efforts in the community, including volunteering at local pet fairs and other pet-related events, providing services for municipal no-cost rabies vaccination clinics, and providing medical care for animals at the Gloucester County Animal Shelter.
“We provide consultations and emergency care for animals coming through the shelter,” she says. “Our goal is to help them find homes for as many animals as we can.”
Those efforts can become personal. Dr. Olsen’s own dog, Zoey, a pit bull, is a shelter rescue. And longtime client Theresa Hunt can attest to how life-changing the hospital’s shelter partnership can be.
Hunt recalls a fateful Friday afternoon visit. A dog who had been hit by a truck was brought into the hospital—injured, unidentified, and destined for the shelter if no owner came forward.
“She had a dislocated hip and possible internal bleeding,” Hunt says. “I agreed to take her home for the weekend, and Dr. Olsen worked with the folks at Gloucester County Animal Shelter to fast-track our approval for fostering.”
When the dog’s owner ultimately came forward to claim her, they decided to relinquish custody when they found out they would be responsible for her vet bills. Hunt and her husband chose to keep Sadie, and the shelter waived her adoption fee and paid for her spaying and hip surgery.
The Pitman Animal Hospital and the Gloucester County Animal Shelter have a wonderful relationship that benefits both the animals and the adopters,” says Hunt, who has been faithfully going to the animal hospital since 1999. In that time, all nine of her dogs have been cared for by the practice.
“Starting with Dr. Harris, the consistency of the level of care we’ve received over the years has been wonderful,” she says. “We’ve always felt like a member of the family there.”
That feeling is mutual, says Hunt, who adds, they, too, consider Pitman Animal Hospital “an extension of our pack.”
