‘The Vet Life’ Star Opens PetSmart Veterinary Hospital Franchise

by Nancy E Williams

December 21, 2023

Through PVS, veterinarians can grow their clinical and business skills.

In early October, Dr. Diarra Blue, a co-founder of Cy-Fair Animal Hospital, which is featured on “The Vet Life” on Animal Planet, opened a PetSmart Veterinary Services (PVS) hospital franchise in Houston.

Part owner and Houston native Dr. Bianca Kirkland will serve as the location’s primary practicing veterinarian. The hospital is now accepting new pet patients. PVS is a partnership with pet retailer PetSmart.

“It’s long been a part of my mission and my passion, to provide opportunities to grow and develop veterinarians of color,” Dr. Blue tells BLACK ENTERPRISE. “Through PVS, I am able to provide veterinarians with the ability to grow clinical and business skills. From day one, Dr. Kirkland impressed me with her passion and attitude to warmly and effectively care for the pets and the people who walk into our hospital. I couldn’t be more excited to be on this ownership journey with her.”  

In 2015, Blue, along with Dr. Michael Lavigne and Dr. Aubrey Ross, Jr. opened their first Cy-Fair Animal Hospital in Houston. “Our journey to starting our own business and opening this clinic is what gave way for our Animal Planet reality series, The Vet Life. This new PetSmart Veterinary Hospital (PVS) location is our fourth Cy-Fair hospital, and we look forward to continuing our work with PVS to open even more”, Blue says. 

Kirkland, primary practicing veterinarian for the new PVS, was born and raised in Houston. She knew from a very young age that she wanted to become a veterinarian. She had a host of animals growing up including fish, hamsters, snakes, dogs, and cats. She also often rode horses with family, friends, and classmates growing up.

All her experiences ignited her passion to become a veterinarian. Kirkland applied to a local animal clinic as a kennel technician at 15 years old, which confirmed her passion and goals. She earned a degree in Wildlife and Fisheries Sciences with a minor in Dance Science from Texas A&M University, working all four years as a veterinary technician.

After graduating, Kirkland pursued her dance career in New York City. She continued to work long days as a veterinary technician and spent her free time training, auditioning, teaching and performing as a professional dancer. After a little over a year Kirkland decided it was time to start her veterinary school journey. She went on to attend Ross University School of Veterinary Medicine on the island of St. Kitts in the Caribbean.

“It means a lot to me to have this clinic in my hometown of Houston and to be able to support my community here,” Kirkland says. “My approach to medicine is all about education. I want to be more than a veterinarian to pet parents and their pets. I want to be someone they can rely on–a knowledgeable and trusted partner who can help them live their best life with their pet.”

PVS is an independent business ownership model that provides a complete solution for veterinarians to open their own franchised practice. PVS hospitals and urgent care centers connect pet parents with local, trusted veterinarians with convenient veterinarian hospital locations within PetSmart stores. Through PVS, Blue hopes to empower more professionals to own their own practice.

“Our relationship with Dr. Blue enables us to give more veterinarians the opportunity to live their dream and own a veterinary hospital,” says John Bork, senior vice president of vet health services at PVS. “Together, we’re working to reduce the barriers to practice ownership through a supportive business model and put hospital ownership back in the hands of veterinarians so they can focus on what they love—caring for animals.”

For more information, go to www.pvsownership.com.

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