Founded by Dr. Kristie Steele in September 2019, Loving Care Veterinary Hospital was created to give families in West Milford and the surrounding communities exceptional veterinary medicine with the personal attention every pet deserves.
Veterinary medicine continues to advance, and so do we.
Loving Care Veterinary Hospital combines experienced veterinary care with modern diagnostic and treatment capabilities designed to help us better understand your pet’s health, identify problems and provide appropriate care.
Technology is important, but it is only part of good veterinary medicine. We believe listening, communication and a personal relationship with every pet owner are just as important.
We want you to understand what is happening with your pet, why a particular treatment may be recommended and what options are available.
Loving Care Veterinary Hospital was founded right here in West Milford, New Jersey, by a veterinarian who grew up here.
As an independently owned veterinary hospital, we are personally invested in the pets, families and community we serve. We take the time to build relationships, provide continuity of care and get to know the animals who come through our doors.
Whether we are meeting a new puppy or kitten, caring for an adult pet or helping an aging companion remain healthy and comfortable, our goal remains the same:
Thoughtful veterinary medicine with the compassion we would want for our own animals.
We want pets and their families to feel comfortable from the moment they arrive.
Our West Milford veterinary hospital was designed to provide a clean, welcoming environment for routine care, diagnostics, treatment, surgery and recovery.
A welcoming first stop for our patients and their families.
On-site diagnostic imaging helps our team evaluate many conditions quickly and efficiently.
Dedicated areas allow us to safely monitor and care for pets before and after treatment.
A comfortable environment for pets and the people who love them.
Clean, modern spaces designed for examinations, procedures and veterinary care.
For Dr. Kristie Steele, becoming a veterinarian wasn’t simply a career choice. It was something she knew she wanted to do from childhood.
Growing up in West Milford, New Jersey, Kristie was constantly surrounded by animals — cats, dogs, horses, hamsters, rabbits and gerbils. Her love for animals and desire to help them eventually became a very clear goal:
She wanted to become a veterinarian.
Dr. Steele graduated from West Milford High School in 1995 and went on to attend Delaware Valley College in Doylestown, Pennsylvania, earning a Bachelor of Science in Small Animal Science and Ecology, cum laude.
She then attended Ross University School of Veterinary Medicine in St. Kitts, West Indies, completing her clinical year at the University of Illinois in Urbana, Illinois. Dr. Steele earned her Doctor of Veterinary Medicine degree in 2005.
Following veterinary school, she practiced in New York State for approximately five years before returning to New Jersey in 2009. After another decade of practicing veterinary medicine in New Jersey, Dr. Steele fulfilled a longtime dream by opening Loving Care Veterinary Hospital in September 2019.
And she opened it in the community where her story began — West Milford.
Dr. Steele believes good veterinary medicine involves more than diagnosing an illness or treating a symptom.
It means getting to know the animal, listening to the concerns of the person sitting across the exam room and helping families make informed decisions about their pet’s care.
Her approach combines experienced veterinary medicine with something much simpler:
Pay attention. Listen. Care.
Dr. Steele remains passionate about the profession she chose as a child and considers it a privilege to spend her days helping animals and the families who love them.
“I truly love being a veterinarian. It is a dream I get to live every day of my life.”
When she isn’t caring for patients, Dr. Steele enjoys spending time with her daughter, Katie Rose, and her parents, Kathy and Rick Aquino.
And, naturally, animals remain a big part of life at home.
Her furry family includes her German Shepherds, Elsa and Karma, along with her three cats — Lily, Snowball and Moon.
For Dr. Steele, animals have been part of her life for as long as she can remember.
At Loving Care Veterinary Hospital, they always will be.
Choosing a veterinarian means choosing someone you can trust with a member of your family.
We invite you to get to know Dr. Steele and the Loving Care Veterinary Hospital team and experience veterinary care built around professional medicine, personal attention and a genuine love for animals.
