Dr. Kristin Sullivan always knew what she wanted to do as a career. Sullivan loved animals and, starting in high school, she worked toward her goal of becoming a veterinarian.
She studied animal science in college and then attended veterinarian school. Once she got her degrees, she worked at a clinic and for a time, she thought she might buy into that practice and become a co-owner.
When it became clear that might not work out, she had to make a choice — continue to work for someone else or start her own practice. That’s when ARPets was born. The business was formed in 2017, and Sullivan, along with her husband Michael, decided to locate the business in Brookland because they determined there was a need in that community.
“I had been practicing veterinarian medicine for five years,” she said. “I wanted to own my own clinic at some point. … It was the best time to do my own thing. It was a huge learning experience for sure.”
Working for another clinic meant Sullivan could focus her time and energy on her clients and she had another vet to bounce ideas off of. Operating her own clinic presented a completely different set of challenges. She had to hire and fire employees. She had to oversee the accounting and business office. Sullivan had to take part in every aspect of an operation that now has 32 employees.
“There was definitely a learning curve, no question about that,” she said.
ARPets (pronounced our pets) offers many veterinarian services including vaccinations, urgent care, emergency and preventative surgeries, in-house diagnostic lab, X-ray, and ultrasound. In 2024, they started offering a new boarding service, the Pawliday Inn. They board cats and dogs in separate spaces.
Arkansas has a dire need for veterinarians. The state ranks 50th among all states in vets per capita, with just 14 per 100,000 people, according to veterinarians.org.
Sullivan said she is pleased that Lyon College and Arkansas State University have plans to open vet schools. She has worked with several teachers who will be part of the A-State program.
Once the schools get going, there will be a fluctuation in the market, but eventually it will stabilize. Sullivan said there is a significant need for vets that deal with larger animals and livestock.
“I’m thrilled we are getting some schools in this area,” she said. “We are a huge agriculture state, and the need is real.”
Editor’s note: This company is a finalist for the Northeast Arkansas Outstanding Business Awards — Small Business category. Winners will be announced at a luncheon on April 15. Contact Rob Gutterridge at [email protected] for tickets.
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