Delta had a problem.

Not an emergency or anything but one of those things that could get out of hand. The Brittany Spaniel belonging to Phil Miller had an ear infection.

“I called my vet, but they couldn't get her in for about a week or two. By that time, her ear would have been much worse, and it would turn into an emergency. So I decided to take her to the emergency vet,” Miller said. “Unfortunately, it was busy at the emergency vet, and there were other cases that were more important than my dog and rightfully so.

"I realized I was in this weird situation for which there was no good solution.”

Miller, CEO and founder of pet resort chain Pawville, turned the situation into an idea – more urgent care for pets. Next week (with a tentative date of June 12), the first Pawville walk-in veterinary clinic is expected to open at the Scotts Hill Pawville, 10340 U.S. 17, with the help of Gretchen Hutt, Pawville’s chief veterinary officer.

“Ever since the pandemic, veterinarians have gotten super busy. I'm not sure if anybody really understands what happened. People got more pets. People were home with their pets more, and they noticed more things,” Hutt said.

Problems such as ear infections and skin irritations can turn into much more serious concerns, which makes urgent care a useful service, she said. 

“And then also for Pawville, it'll be just a real convenience factor for the clients … because if their pet needs vaccinations and they forgot to go to their vet or they couldn't get into their vet to get vaccinations before they boarded their dogs, they'll be able to just stop at the vet clinic on the way in and get the vaccinations that they need,” said Hutt, who owned her own veterinary practice in Durham for more than 20 years.

Miller said Pawville is set to open the next urgent care facility in front of Midtown Pawville, 3532 Carolina Beach Road, with construction expected to begin soon, and all of the Pawville urgent care clinics will have their own managing veterinarians. The managing veterinarian at the Scotts Hill location is Ashley Anderson. 

Miller and his wife and co-owner, Amanda, own nine Pawville locations in the Southeast, including four in the Wilmington area. Their employee base has grown from 100 to 200 employees in just two years.

He said, “We want to offer veterinary clinics at Pawvilles wherever we have space on the property.”