(VRCCO staff (L-R) Dr. Jill Broadbent DVM, Jennifer Lankford, Krista Hall, Dr. Taylor Stockdale DVM, Chrissy Wirtz CVT | Photo courtesy of VRCCO)
In the heart of Bend, the Veterinary Referral Center of Central Oregon (VRCCO) is redefining veterinary care through a model that is technologically advanced, community-focused, and locally owned.
Whether you are reaching out to their emergency team in the dark of night with a vomiting puppy or a senior dog with a snout full of porcupine quills, or are struggling to treat your recently adopted cat’s allergy to Bend’s spring juniper bloom, or have no idea what ailment is troubling your beloved pet, VRCCO is ready and able to help and offers state of the art care, highly qualified professionals and industry-leading technology every step of the way.
Since its founding in 2018, VRCCO has grown into a regional leader and national model for veterinary services, offering comprehensive care for pets that rivals the quality and service found at human-serving medical facilities.
VRCCO CEO and surgeon, Dr. Mauricio Dujowich, DVM, DACVS, CCRT expresses that VRCCO focuses on the journey of the pet and pet parent’s experience and understands that “because of the circumstances, most people are never going to be excited to visit us, at least initially, so our purpose has always been to try and make a real connection with our pet parents and patient-guests during their journey with us, however long it may be.”
With two facilities in Bend, VRCCO provides a full spectrum of advanced veterinary services, including 24/7 emergency care, specialty services in neurology, oncology, dermatology, ophthalmology, internal medicine, surgery, rehabilitation therapy and urgent care. Their state-of-the-art hospital features Central Oregon’s first pet-dedicated MRI, a 64-slice CT scanner, and interventional radiology capabilities, enabling advanced diagnostics and treatments previously unavailable locally.
“We strive to provide world class medicine,” Dr. Dujowich said. “The medicine and experience we would want for ourselves. Our highly trained team, combined with advanced technology, enables us to make swift, confident decisions that lead to the best possible outcomes for both pets and their parents.”
A notable example of VRCCO’s advanced care is a recent total hip replacement surgery on Moira, a three-legged feline. Shortly after Moira’s hind leg amputation it was discovered that she had also sustained an injury to her pelvis, which included a chronic luxation (dislocation) of her other hip. This injury was preventing Moira from living a pain-free, active life.
Feline hip replacements are complex procedures; Moira’s case was particularly challenging because she only had one back leg. Her new hip would have to bear a significant amount of weight immediately after surgery. However, with the help of 3-D printing technology, Dr. Dujowich was able to print an exact model of Moira’s hip and femur enabling his team to refine their approach to ensure the best possible outcome for Moira.
Thanks to this thorough preparation, Moira’s surgery went smoothly, and she quickly adapted to a pain-free life on three legs. VRCCO is now offering Telemedicine informational appointments for total hip replacement cases, to make it even easier and more efficient for pet parents to access the care they need.
Beyond medical excellence, VRCCO emphasizes community engagement and staff well-being. The facility includes a certified childcare center called Vet Cadets, which offers subsidized care for employees reflecting the organization’s dedication to supporting its team.
“It is important for us to create as many avenues as possible to remove the stress that life sometimes brings. Knowing your child is in good hands, and in the same building while working, allows our staff to focus on what they do best,” Dr. Dujowich said.
Vet Cadets is also open to the public and provides scheduled full-time, part-time and drop-in care to the Central Oregon community. Their programming aims to enrich each child’s social, intellectual, and physical development and provide opportunities to practice necessary skills through play-based learning.
But that’s not all. Adjacent to the VRCCO hospital on NE Oxford Court is Ponch’s Place, a food truck pavilion and beer garden featuring tasty eats like 5th Street Bagels, The Tin Pig, Pops Southern BBQ and Los Brothers. Ponch’s Place also offers community events with weekly bingo, trivia and live music. This space serves as a communal gathering spot, reinforcing VRCCO’s role as a community hub.
Dr. Dujowich shares: “One of our core values is to go ‘beyond expectations’ and we feel we hit it right on the dot with the creation of Ponch’s Place. To provide a welcoming space where people can enjoy each other’s company, eat good food, and separate themselves from the stresses of daily life is important to us.”
VRCCO is poised to continue its leadership in veterinary medicine, setting a benchmark for comprehensive, compassionate, and community-oriented care in the Pacific Northwest.
vrcvet.com • 541-209-6960
