Why Choose Us?

AAHA Accreditation — Independently Verified Standards

Fewer than 10% of veterinary practices in the United States and Canada hold accreditation from the American Animal Hospital Association (AAHA). We are one of them. AAHA accreditation is not self-reported — it requires an on-site evaluation against more than 900 standards covering surgical safety, anesthetic monitoring, pain management, diagnostic quality, pharmacy protocols, medical record standards, emergency preparedness, and team training.

When you bring your pet to Copake Veterinary Hospital, you are not taking our word for it that we do things right. You have the independent verification of the most rigorous credentialing body in veterinary medicine.

Independently Owned — Decisions Made for Your Pet, Not Shareholders

Corporate veterinary groups now own a significant and growing share of practices across the country. Copake Veterinary Hospital is not one of them. Dr. Tyler Hotaling and his wife own and operate this practice independently — no management company, no corporate group, no external shareholders influencing clinical decisions.

What this means practically: the recommendations your pet receives are based entirely on what is best for them. Not on production targets, not on corporate protocols, not on the revenue expectations of a distant ownership group.

Five Licensed Veterinary Technicians

Licensed Veterinary Technicians (LVTs) are credentialed veterinary professionals — not just assistants. They perform diagnostics, collect samples, run laboratory equipment, assist in surgery, monitor anesthesia, administer medications, and play a central role in client education. Having five LVTs on our team means the depth of skilled, credentialed involvement in your pet’s care is significantly higher than at many comparable practices.

Advanced Surgical Capabilities — Reducing the Need for Costly Referrals

One of the most significant gaps in rural and semi-rural veterinary medicine is access to surgical care. Specialist referral — while appropriate for the most complex cases — is expensive and often requires travel to Albany, Poughkeepsie, or the New York metro area.

Dr. Hotaling has deliberately expanded our surgical capabilities to close that gap:

• Internal fracture fixation — Using plates, screws, pins, and cerclage wires — available now
• Medial luxating patella (MPL) corrections — Coming soon
• TPLO (Tibial Plateau Leveling Osteotomy) — Dr. Hotaling is completing training; expected by Fall 2026

Many orthopedic cases that previously required referral can now be handled at Copake Veterinary Hospital, at a fraction of the cost and without the travel burden on families and pets.

Same-Day Diagnostics

Our in-house laboratory, digital radiography, and ultrasound capabilities mean that most diagnostic questions get answered the same day — often within the same appointment. We are not waiting two or three days for outside lab results before making a treatment decision.

A History of Serving This Community

Copake Veterinary Hospital has been part of this community since 1947. We are not a new practice that arrived recently to fill a market gap — we are a generational institution that has earned the trust of Columbia County families over decades, and that is now entering a new era of growth and expanded capability under independent ownership that is genuinely invested in what this practice becomes.

What Our Clients Say

We have been named to the Best of Columbia County list three years in a row. Our clients describe our team as thorough, caring, communicative, and trustworthy — and they come from Hudson, Hillsdale, Millerton, Ancram, Craryville, and communities throughout the Tri-State area to receive care here.

Ready to experience the difference? Learn more about our practice, explore our full range of veterinary services, or visit our new clients page to get started. Call Copake Veterinary Hospital at (518) 329-6161 to schedule an appointment in Copake Falls, NY .