About
Who we are
Mission Statement
Southwest Veterinary Urgent Care (SVUC) was created to address the rapidly growing need for veterinary care in the Fort Wayne and surrounding areas. The pet population is ever increasing, which brings about an increased demand for veterinary services. In particular is the need for emergency services.
Our goal is to provide diagnostics and treatment for your sick and/or injured pet. We will primarily focus on treating mild to moderate illnesses. If your pet needs more advanced care that we can't provide (namely surgery and/or overnight hospitalization), we will direct you to the appropriate facility. Please check out the "Who we are" page to learn more about our mission and goals for serving the community.
Dr. Michael Wibel
Owner/Medical Director
Dr. Wibel was born and raised in Fort Wayne, IN. He attended Bishop Luers High School and went on to study general health sciences at Purdue University. He then took his studies to the University of Illinois to get his DVM (Doctor of Veterinary Medicine).
Dr. Wibel spent two years in general practice followed by the last 5 years in emergency medicine. He has had the chance to work at multiple emergency hospitals, ranging from small private ER's to large multi-specialty facilities. Dr. Wibel could not be more excited to be back home in Fort Wayne and be able to serve the pets in the Fort Wayne area and beyond.
In his free time, Dr. Wibel enjoys exploring the outdoors, exercising, and watching sports. He has a golden retriever named Ruxin (pictured) that is the SVUC mascot! If you get him to start talking about college basketball, he may not stop!
Dr. Michael Wibel
Owner and Medical Director
Dr. Wibel was born and raised in Fort Wayne. He did his undergraduate work at Purdue University and then graduated with his Doctor of Veterinary Medicine from the University of Illinois in 2015. He worked in general practice in the Chicago suburbs for 2 years, followed by emergency medicine in Charlotte, NC for 4 years. His interests include cardiology, endocrinology, and toxicology. He has a golden retriever named Ruxin, who is the SVUC mascot!
Our Team
Brandon Warner
Veterinary Assistant
Brandon has been working in the veterinary field since 2002. He has an associate’s degree in Veterinary Technology from IBC. Brandon also works at a local general veterinary practice. In his free time, he enjoys camping, fishing, reading, and exploring his saltwater tank hobby. He has two Australian Shepherds named Deuce and Duncan, and a Corgi names Britain.
Lauren Smith
Registered Veterinary Technician
Lauren has been a vet tech for 25 years. She has two teenagers at home who keep her busy with sports. She also has two dogs (Leena and Jaxson) and three cats (Skeeter, Fern, and Elenore). Her hobby is wildlife rehab when she has some free time!
Taylor Dehner
Veterinary Assistant
Taylor was born and raised in Fort Wayne. She graduated from Homestead HS and has been working in emergency medicine for 7 years. She has two daughters that keep her busy. She also has two dogs (Max and Sky) and a spicy orange kitty named Carrot. Taylor loves animals and feels that her purpose here on earth is to help them!
Maya Hower
Veterinary Assistant
Maya was born and raised in Fort Wayne and graduated from Snider HS. She is currently attending Indiana Tech and pursuing a degree in Pre-Vet/Biology. Her plan is to apply to veterinary school. She has a dog named Henry and a cat named Nova. Maya enjoys playing hockey and spending time with friends in her free time!
Sarah Liechty
Registered Veterinary Technician
Sarah graduated from Canterbury HS in Fort Wayne. She then attended Michigan State University majoring in Animal Science, and Bel-Rea Institute of Animal Technology in Denver, Colorado for Veterinary Technician Training. She is a true nerd and always excited to learn. She has a mixed breed dog named Macadamia at home. She enjoys spending time with my family, traveling, trying new foods, going to concerts or Broadway shows, and watching movies and TV shows.
Aimee Graves
Registered Veterinary Technician
Aimee has been a registered veterinary technician for almost 30 years. She graduated from Purdue University with a degree in veterinary technology. Aimee has experience in general practice, emergency medicine, equine medicine, and industry. Aimee is also a certified pet nutritional coach. She has two daughters (Ryleigh and Haleigh), a dog (Ace) and two cats (Pixie and Boo). In her free time, Aimee enjoys spending time on the lake, at 4-H events, and school/church events.
Rachel Colley
Veterinary Assistant
Rachel has been working in veterinary medicine since 2014. She has a long-haired cat named Einstein at home. She also works in the restaurant industry and enjoys crafting in her free time!
Dakota Studebaker
Veterinary Assistant
Dakota attended Purdue University (Boiler Up!) where she graduated in 2020 with a B.S. in Animal Sciences with a concentration in Behavior and Well-being as well as a minor in Psychology and a minor in Fisheries. She has been working as a veterinary assistant for almost 2 years. When not at work she is more than likely in a bowling alley or doing some kind of traveling. She has a dog (Maya) and 4 cats (Bean, Rhea, Sunny, and Mouse).
Abby Osterman
Veterinary Assistant
Abby is currently a student at PFW working toward a B.S. in Biology and Associates in Chemical methods. She plans to go to veterinary school! She brings with her experience in emergency practice. She has two snakes at home (Lumiere and Quinn) and three cats (Sawyer, Toulouse, and Delilah), and a dog (Bentley).
Catherine Bogdon
Veterinary Assistant
Hunter Miller
Registered Veterinary Technician
Anne Coughlin
Registered Veterinary Technician
Catherine is a Fort Wayne native who has worked as a veterinary assistant since 2002. She is a proud owner of three golden retrievers (Maverick, Primrose, and Tansy) who enjoy going on all her adventures. She also has 5 cats (Goose, Arthur, Josephine, Macaroni, and Sebastian). In her free time, she enjoys hiking and spending time on the water.