Team – Passionate Paws Animal Hospital

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A Vision for Excellence

It starts with the right team.

Our Team

Dr. Susan Bonilla, MS, CVA, CCRP, CACP
Veterinarian

Stephen Bonilla, MBA
Hospital Administrator

Dr. Carlie Brue, CACP
Associate Veterinarian

Dr. Stephanie Izurieta, HABC
Associate Veterinarian

Dr. Leslie Kinnin
Associate Veterinarian

Our Team

Dr. Susan Bonilla, MS, CVA, CCRP, CACP
Veterinarian

Dr. Carlie Brue, CACP
Associate Veterinarian

Dr. Stephanie Izurieta, HABC
Associate Veterinarian

Dr. Leslie Kinnin
Associate Veterinarian

Stephen Bonilla, MBA
Hospital Administrator

Our Mission Is
Integrative Pet Healthcare

Conventional veterinary medicine focuses on treating acute disease and multiple symptoms, with an emphasis on episodic care — restoring your pet to a previous level of functioning. This model of pet healthcare has been very successful over the years due to continued advances in medical research, pharmaceuticals, and treatment procedures.

However, this pet healthcare model is not without its drawbacks. Its emphasis on episodic care means treating pets only when they are sick, which creates a reactionary system of healthcare. Time and effort understanding the underlying causes of disease and its prevention are unfortunately pushed aside in favor of sick care. This model, like a sick pet, is out of balance.

Integrative pet healthcare restores this balance. It does not just focus on symptoms, but puts the pet at the center, addressing the real causes of illness while promoting wellness and maintenance of health. By definition, integrative pet healthcare strengthens the bond among veterinarian, pet, and pet parent, focuses on the whole pet, is evidence based, andutilizes all appropriate therapeutic approaches (both conventional and complementary) as well as veterinary specialists to deliver optimal health and well being.

At Passionate Paws it is our mission to practice integrative medicine in partnership with you to provide the safest and most effective healthcare plan uniquely designed to treat your whole pet, not just the disease and create a visit experience that alleviates fear, anxiety, and stress. You will never find a one-size-fits-all approach at Passionate Paws.

Our Culture

Learning: Push the boundaries of your knowledge.

Education: Teach others.

Innovation: Do not settle for complacency.

Community: Reach out to those around us.

Respect: Our pets, pet parents, environment, and one another.

Fun: Remember to have it, this is the most rewarding career in the world.

Empowerment: Know you can solve the problem at hand.

Passion: Be passionate in all you do.

Our Dream

Passionate Paws Animal Hospital™ was founded in 2016 by husband and wife team, Stephen Bonilla and Dr. Susan Bonilla, and located in Waxhaw, North Carolina. This hospital represents 8 years of planning, starting the day Dr. Bonilla began veterinary school.

Everything the Bonilla’s have done since 2008 has been in careful preparation of one day opening their own small animal hospital.
Their passion and drive is infectious and inspirational and their attention to detail is well received. It can be seen in every inch of their hospital from design to patient care to pet parent service.

The Bonilla’s eagerly await meeting each and everyone of your pets to provide them with the care they deserve.