Tooney's Last Resort: A safe haven for animals

As an avid animal lover and veterinarian, Laurel Himes, VMD, practice manager at Beach Animal Hospital in Point Pleasant Beach, New Jersey, founded Tooney's Last Resort back in 1995—a safe and inclusive space for all animals to thrive in. Since its inception, the sanctuary has been home to hundreds of animals including plenty of dogs and cats, 1 chicken, and 1 rabbit.

In a recent interview with dvm360^®, Himes shared the sanctuary's mission and how it's become a safe haven for animals from various backgrounds, plus her vision for the future of Tooney's Last Resort.

“Sometimes it’s a temporary sanctuary and sometimes it’s a long-term residence for some of the animals that pass through," Himes told dvm360^® staff. "I mean, it can be as quick as kittens that are there for 3 weeks and it can be as permanent as an owner that is no longer able to care for their pet and [the pet] comes to live with us."

As for the future of this animal safe haven, Himes hinted that there may be some big, upcoming changes in store. “We’ll see where it goes in the future. It might be something that’s even bigger than what it’s been than from before,” she concluded.

Watch the full video below to learn more about this wonderful animal sanctuary at Beach Animal Hospital, plus the key to Himes' success as both a practice manager and caregiver.