1978
Riversbend Animal Hospital was founded by Dr. Edward Lepley in Rogers Heights.
1980 – 1981
Dr. James Krellwitz (left) & Dr. James Scott (right) graduated from Michigan State University’s College of Veterinary Medicine and joined Dr. Lepley at Riversbend Animal Hospital.
1990’s – 2000’s
Two of Dr. Scott’s seven children, Ruth and James (Jimmy), joined the Riversbend family as assistants. Their brother, Joseph, followed in their footsteps a few years later.
2008
Dr. Krellwitz retired and Dr. Scott became sole owner of Riversbend. Dr. Scott continued to be the driving force in bringing the most advanced treatment and technology to the Big Rapids area, and hired several MSU Veterinary Graduates over the years.
2014
Dr. Scott pursued his vision of having Riversbend Animal Hospital become accredited by the American Animal Hospital Association (AAHA), showing his excellent standard of care and compassion for any animal that walked through the doors.
2016
The business outgrew its original space. Dr. Scott decided to keep the Rogers Heights location as Riversbend Boarding and Grooming and purchase a building (previously known as Hope Network) for Riversbend Animal Hospital.
Ruth followed the same path as her father and graduated from Michigan State University with a Doctorate in Veterinary Medicine. She quickly found her passion and decided to complete advanced training in surgery. After finishing her small animal surgery residency at the University of Minnesota, she returned to Riversbend with the ambition to provide specialty surgical services to Big Rapids and the surrounding communities.
Jimmy, after completing undergraduate studies at Ferris State University and providing years of leadership as the Hospital’s Manager, became a Certified Veterinary Practice Manager. He continues to bring guidance and compassion to the team, our clients, and our beloved patients today.
2019
Dr. Ruth took over as sole owner of Riversbend, keeping it a family owned and operated business. Her drive to improve the lives of each and every animal she saw was apparent as she brought advanced surgical techniques to Riversbend and strived to create an environment of patience and compassion.
2020
After careful deliberation, Dr. Ruth and Jimmy decided to close Riversbend Boarding and Grooming, focusing on the clients and the patients that needed their help the most: the sick and injured.
2022
Dr. Ruth became a Diplomate of the American College of Veterinary Surgeons (Small Animal) with a focus on Orthopedics and Soft Tissue Surgery. This has allowed for concerned pet parents of Big Rapids and the surrounding areas to bring their hurt and sick animals to a board-certified surgeon without having to drive long distances.
2022
Joseph rejoined Riversbend Animal Hospital after following in the footsteps of both his father and sister by graduating from Michigan State University with a Doctorate in Veterinary Medicine. Dr. Joseph focuses on internal medicine, wanting to bring the best service and care to all of his patients.
Riversbend Animal Hospital – Family-Owned and Operated
