A Different Kind of Specialty Animal Hospital in Pasadena, CA
Most pet owners never plan to visit a specialty and emergency hospital. Then a difficult diagnosis appears. An emergency happens in the middle of the night. A primary veterinarian recommends advanced testing or a specialist consultation.
That’s where ACCESS Specialty Animal Hospital – Pasadena comes in.
We were built to help pets facing complex medical conditions, urgent emergencies, and situations that require advanced expertise. Since opening our doors, our mission has remained clear: Provide exceptional specialty and emergency veterinary care while supporting the people and veterinarians who trust us with their patients.
It Started with a Simple Idea
In 2005, Dr. Rich Mills, a board-certified veterinary criticalist, recognized a growing need for advanced specialty and emergency veterinary care in Southern California. He founded ACCESS with the belief that pets and their families deserved access to high-level medicine delivered by teams that collaborate, communicate, and genuinely care about outcomes.
As demand grew, ACCESS expanded. Today, ACCESS Pasadena continues that vision as an independently owned specialty and emergency hospital serving pets, pet owners, and referring veterinarians throughout the region.
Independent by Design
Veterinary medicine has changed dramatically over the years, with many specialty hospitals becoming part of large corporate networks.
ACCESS Pasadena took a different path.
As a veterinarian-owned hospital, decisions are made by doctors and hospital leaders who work directly with patients, clients, and referring veterinarians every day. That independence allows us to remain flexible, responsive, and focused on providing the right care for each patient.
Built Around Collaboration
The most challenging cases rarely fit neatly into one specialty. That’s why ACCESS Pasadena was built around collaboration.
Emergency doctors, board-certified specialists, staff veterinarians, technicians, assistants, and client care teams work together every day to evaluate cases, share expertise, and develop treatment plans. It is not unusual for multiple specialists to contribute to a patient's care, especially when complex conditions affect more than one body system.
For pet owners, that means more coordinated care. For referring veterinarians, it means access to a team that values communication and partnership as much as clinical expertise.
Looking to the Future
Veterinary medicine never stands still, and neither do we.
ACCESS Pasadena continues to invest in specialty services, advanced technology, and innovative treatment options that expand what is possible for pets facing serious medical conditions. From our growing specialty departments to the Center for Advanced Veterinary Interventions (CAVI), our focus remains on finding better answers for complex cases and helping more pets receive the care they need.
Need emergency care or a specialty consultation? Contact ACCESS Specialty Animal Hospital – Pasadena at (626) 993-9600 to learn how our team can help.