LYNN — A longtime veterinarian practice in the city reopened its doors last week.
North Shore Animal Hospital, which opened in 1982, began seeing pets once again, less than a year after the business closed in December 2022.
The practice was started by Lynn native Dr. David Dunn and had been operating out of the building at 1 Neptune Blvd. since 1988. As he was looking ahead to retirement, Dunn sold the business in early 2022 to Mission Veterinary Partners, an organization that operates a network of animal hospitals. Just nine months later, the business closed.
Dunn’s son, Peter, decided to reopen the practice and become the second generation of family ownership.
“We are once again an independent, privately-owned, small animal hospital in Lynn,” said Peter Dunn. “We’re free to form unique connections with our clients, patients and other small businesses within our local communities and contribute to the local economy.”
The younger Dunn, who earned his doctorate in veterinary medicine in 2017, started practicing alongside his father at the hospital, after making a switch from a career in finance.
“I took a job at the animal hospital and loved it,” he said. “I applied to vet school, and never looked back. It’s a lot more fun coming to work everyday.”
Peter Dunn opened the practice doors to patients again on Sept. 8, serving as the lead full-time veterinarian, along with two other part-time vets and other assistants, technicians and client care representatives as part of the clinic’s 13-person team.
North Shore Animal Hospital will also keep things in the family, with David Dunn working as a part-time surgeon and Peter Dunn’s sister, Rachel Boss, planning to work at the clinic as a part-time veterinarian in the future.
“A slow rebuild is the plan,” Peter Dunn said. “We used to have 45 employees, but I’ve already hired 13 of them back and we’re hoping to hire more as we get going. We’re just really happy to get it rolling again.”
Peter Dunn said the goal of the clinic remains unchanged from the mission his father had when North Shore Animal Hospital opened 40 years ago.
“Our goal is to provide the best possible care for each pet based on a lifetime of preventative care, educating owners and advocating for pets,” Peter Dunn said. “We love what we do.”
Peter Dunn says the Economic Development & Industrial Corporation of Lynn (EDIC/Lynn) was helpful in getting everything in place for the reopening.
“EDIC helped up throughout the process,” he said. “Jim (Cowdell, Executive Director) was just the best. We luckily ended up getting our building (on Neptune Boulevard) back, but when it looked we wouldn’t, they helped us look for new locations, and they were very helpful with permits.”
According to Dunn, the hospital addresses pets’ annual wellness care, as well as care for complex medical conditions, surgical needs, or urgent illnesses.
Hours are 8:30 a.m. to 7 p.m. on Mondays and Tuesdays, 8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Thursdays and Fridays and 8:30 a.m. to 2 p.m. on Saturdays.
Appointments can be scheduled by calling 781-596-0510.
