Chatham Animal Clinic · Chatham, Virginia

Locally owned. Veterinarian run. Chatham’s own since 1992.

We’re an independent practice owned by the veterinarians who work here, not a corporate group. Paws, hooves, or feathers, every animal gets the care we’d want for our own.

Schedule an AppointmentSee Our Pricing

Same-day sick visits · 24/7 emergency care · 434-432-CARE

A dog and a cow nose to nose in a barn
Chatham Animal Clinic team with a young goat
Independently owned since 1992

What “locally owned” means for you

Chatham Animal Clinic has been owned by its veterinarians since Dr. Lisa Shorter opened the doors on Main Street in 1992. There’s no corporate office, no investor group, and no quota to hit. The people deciding how to care for your animal are the ones standing in the exam room, or the barn, with you.

  • Decisions made here, not in a boardroom.

    Treatment plans come from our veterinarians and your goals for your animal, not from a company playbook.

  • Honest recommendations.

    We’ll tell you what your animal needs, what’s optional, and what can wait. No pressure to add on.

  • A real person answers.

    Call us and you reach our front desk in Chatham, not a call center or a phone tree.

  • Eight veterinarians, one standard.

    Small animals, large animals, and exotics, all treated the way we’d treat our own.

Meet Our TeamSchedule an Appointment

Pricing & Payment Options

You’ll know what things cost before we start.

We publish our prices because nobody should be surprised at checkout. And because cost should never be the reason an animal goes without care, we give you a few ways to plan for it.

Published Prices

$51 wellness exam

Sick exams, vaccines, spays and neuters, dental cleanings, and large-animal calls are all listed. What you see is what you pay.

View our pricing

Pet Care Plans

$43/month for cats · $67/month for dogs

A year of preventive care, including vaccines, wellness exams, and parasite prevention, spread into one predictable monthly payment.

See the plans

CareCredit & Payment Options

6 months interest-free with CareCredit

Bigger bills can be broken into smaller pieces. Applying takes about five minutes. We also take cash, check, and all major cards.

Payment options

Have a bigger procedure coming up, or not sure what a visit will run? Ask us. We’d rather talk it through with you than have you put off care.

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Everything from house cats to herds.

One clinic for the whole family and the whole farm. Most of what your animals need is under one roof on Main Street, and when they need a specialist, we’ll point you to one we trust.

Cats and Dogs

Cats & Dogs

Wellness visits, vaccines, surgery, dental care, X-ray and ultrasound, chiropractic, and reproductive care.

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Large Animals

Large Animals

Cattle, horses, pigs, small ruminants, and camelids. Farm calls, herd health, reproduction, and emergencies.

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Exotics

Exotics

Rabbits, ferrets, guinea pigs, and rats. Wellness care, spays and neuters, and dental evaluations.

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Urgent and Emergency Care

Urgent & Emergency Care

Same-day sick visits during the day and a 24/7 emergency line, because animals don’t get sick on a schedule.

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Grooming

Grooming

Full clips, trims, baths, and blowouts from our in-house groomers.

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Boarding

Boarding

A safe home away from home for dogs and cats, cared for by the same team that knows their health history.

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Making a difference

Dr. Shorter is fantastic, you can tell she loves what she does and cares about the animals that she treats! Love the staff, they will help you with anything!

Chris
These folks are so very kind and friendly. They never hesitate to come to the farm for emergencies or accommodate our schedule sometimes. They are reasonably priced and truly show they are experts in their field.
Victoria
The staff are very friendly and helpful. The DVM was very knowledgeable. They were the ONLY vet that I could get to answer my questions before the purchase of my animals. I highly recommend them for your pets.
Dawn

Had to put my baby down and they were Very sweet professional and caring. Couldn’t ask for nicer people at such a hard time.

Shelley

We’ve been with Dr Shorter and staff for several years. They truly love what they do and take such good care of our babies, even calling the day after appointments to make sure all is well. The best most loving group of folks around!

Deborah

My horse Beau has received the best care from Chatham Animal Clinic for the past 16 years! Dr. Erwin & Dr. Barker were there for me when I had to make the toughest decision for him. I am so thankful for their wisdom as well as their compassion! Highly recommended!!

Amy
I don’t think any of the times I needed Chatham Animal Clinic was a time during their normal hours.. every emergency I have had has been on a Sunday or later on in the evening and they have always had the same reply…”meet at the clinic in 15-20 minutes”. I cannot say enough good things about the staff here and highly recommend them for any of your veterinary needs. I won’t be going anywhere else.
Joey

They are awesome and really care about your animals. Whenever I call and need something, there is always someone to talk to about an issue with my dog or help me. Every visit, Dr. Shorter is so professional and is honest with you about what to do with your pet. I can speak from experience, she really does care about what she does and not just about making money. Love this place!

Tessa