Meet the Vet
Male veterinarian with brown hair kneeling beside a black Ford truck with brown and white Whippet, brown Lab Hound Mix, and black lab mix. Purple therapy balls, green cones and cavaletti pole

Timothy R. Ford, DVM

Veterinarian

Dr. Timothy R. Ford, originally from Scottsdale, Arizona, grew up with the energy and love of Shelties in his family's home. His mother was a nurse and inspired a strong interest in the field of medicine for Dr. Ford as a young child. He gravitated to the field of veterinary medicine with a desire to improve the quality of a pet's life through all stages of age and activity.


Dr. Ford graduated Summa Cum Laude from the University of North Carolina at Wilmington in 1996. He continued his studies at the University of Tennessee College of Veterinary Medicine, graduating as valedictorian of his veterinary class in 2001. After receiving his Doctorate of Veterinary Medicine, Dr. Ford completed a two-year residency at Emory University in Atlanta, Georgia.


Dr. Ford worked as a veterinarian in a small animal medicine clinic in Wilmington, NC for 20 years. In addition to his work in rehabilitation, sports conditioning, and nutrition, Dr. Ford has experience with reconstructive surgeries, laparoscopic spays, advanced dermatology and allergy cases, and many other areas of small animal care.


Dr. Ford's interest in options to improve a beloved animal's quality of life led him to earn the Medical Acupuncture for Veterinarians certification in Fort Collins, Colorado.


He wanted to advance his knowledge of further opportunities for an optimal life through strengthening and mobility in the animals under his care, which he found in his studies with the Scientific Integrative Medicine Courses by CuraCore in Colorado.


He has completed the coursework for the Certified Canine Rehabilitation Practitioner at The University of Tennessee College of Veterinary Medicine. Dr. Ford is also a certified Veterinary Botanical Medicine Consultant and has received his Certification of Photomedicine for Veterinarians from CuraCore in Colorado.

Dr. Ford resides in Wilmington, NC with his wife, Laura and their two sons. He is an active leader in his sons Boy Scout troop, loves camping, hiking, woodworking, and his Peloton bike. Dr. Ford and his family have two Lab mix rescues, Onyx and Luke, and a mischievous Whippet named Hiccup.

Laura N. Ford

Practice Manager

Laura and Tim met in 1995 at the University of North Carolina at Wilmington. Laura graduated Cum Laude from UNCW in 1999 with a B.A. in Special Education. She continued her studies at UNCW, graduating in 2001 with a Master of Education in Language and Literacy and later obtained an English as a Second Language licensure. She has worked as a  Reading Specialist, Exceptional Children's teacher, English as a Second Language teacher, and Reading Coach.


Laura grew up with an English Setter named Patches, a Cockatiel named Sydney, and raised Mini Lop rabbits as pets through her teen years.


Laura and Tim's first dog together was Sedona, a Lab mix. Sedona was the last puppy in a litter left on the clinic steps overnight where Tim was working as a veterinary student. Sedona was a shared "Study Buddy" and regularly traded off between TN and NC while Tim and Laura were in school.


She met her first Whippet while spending time at the veterinary school one summer, and fell in love with the affectionate, playful, and sensitive nature of the breed. A few years later, Tim and Laura adopted their Whippet, Chance. He proudly earned his Canine Good Citizen certification and brought much love to schools, libraries, hospitals, and skilled nursing facilities as a qualified Animal-Assisted Therapy dog in Georgia and North Carolina.


Laura is very active in the lives of their two sons and three dogs, Onyx, Luke and Hiccup. She loves hiking for miles and miles in any state or country with cool weather and Tim by her side. Tim shares his Peloton, and they have date nights at the gym each week. Laura is a voracious reader who loves trying new healthy recipes for her boys, and tending to her orchids. She cannot imagine a life without dogs who insist on being walked every single day.

Share by: