A young family of black ethnicity lying their heads together in a circle on the grass with their white golden retriever

Our Most Vital Patient: The Planet

The One Health concept recognizes that human, animal, and environmental health are all intertwined. At Verdigris Pet Hospital we believe in a commitment to our planet and our “wild” friends, as much as we do our companion animals. We’ve integrated sustainability into our everyday veterinary practice and hospital design through: eco-friendly products, reduced waste principles, and an emphasis on native plant landscaping and habitat. We practice organic and pesticide free landscape care and use only green-powered tools to perform outdoor maintenance. We invite you and your pets to respectfully enjoy any critters you may encounter on our property by observation only, understanding the vital role that each plays in our ecosystem.

managing stormwater

To give stormwater a place to go, a series of bioswales are installed around the property. Our curb-less parking areas allow rainwater and runoff from around the site to enter these bioswales that act as a basin, where native plantings and a conservation seed mix naturally filter and slow the flow of stormwater.

eco-friendly products

We are always on the hunt for eco-friendly and more sustainable products to replace single-use plastics and plastic waste in our daily practice. Our medical gloves are from the KVP Renewables Collection, BetterGoods™ — 100% biodegradable (and/or recyclable) in landfill conditions, and using 42% less energy to produce. Our Sharpsmart reusable medical waste containers help divert millions of pounds of plastic from landfills, and reduce the overall carbon footprint of disposable sharps containers by 76%.

native landscaping

We have minimized turf lawn space and the majority of our property is landscaped with native species that are water efficient, require less maintenance, and provide important food and habitat for wildlife and pollinators.

surface heat reduction

The use of light-colored roofing and gravel fill in our outdoor spaces keeps temperatures down by reflecting the sunlight, rather than absorbing it. Large native shade trees will grow to provide canopy, minimizing the impact of the urban heat island effect, while also enhancing air quality.

dark-sky friendly lighting

Energy efficient lighting design and full-to-partial cutoff fixtures minimize light trespass while still keeping the area safe during late night emergency visits.

little changes, big impact

Reduce, Reuse, Repair, Rot, Recycle.

The medical field is a difficult arena in which to achieve zero waste, but it doesn’t mean that we don’t strive to make small changes wherever we can. See below for easy, meaningful ways we are working to minimize our environmental impact.

Incorporating Sustainability into Everyday Veterinary Practice

As a fully digital, integrated practice, the need for paper is nearly eliminated. When printing is required, we use 100% post-consumer recycled paper, defaults are set to double-sided, and any single-sided paper is turned into notepads.

We have a designated cardboard dumpster and used-battery collection bin for more efficient processing of our high value recyclables.

Additionally, every employee is given a Fill-it-Forward reusable water bottle and custom Chico bag to help kickstart a habit of reuse!

Verdigris Pet Hospital proudly uses the following eco-friendly alternatives:

  • Zero waste laundry, shower, and handwashing supplies, where medically appropriate

  • Plastic-free, bamboo TP, paper towels, and tissues

  • 100% Recycled plastic trash bags

  • Energy Star® appliances

  • LED lighting
  • Low-flow toilets
  • Automatic faucets and hand dryers
  • Automatic, reusable bottle fillers for both clients and staff

  • Reusable and/or recycled retail and prescription bags, only when necessary

  • Washable/reusable PPE
  • Motion sensor lighting in designated locations

  • BetterGoods™ biodegradable gloves

  • Sharpsmart reusable medical waste containers

  • Landfill friendly pet waste pick-up bags

Our Promise to the Planet

Verdigris Pet Hospital and Emergency Care seeks to be a better steward of the Earth by creating a healthy environment for our patients, employees, and community. We promise to conduct business in such a way as to conserve energy, water, and natural resources. Our hospital is also committed to protecting air and ground water quality, and to nurturing our ecological community.

Verdigris Pet Hospital and Emergency Care is committed to observing all Federal, state, and local laws and ordinances aimed at protecting the environment.

Verdigris Pet Hospital and Emergency Care will continually seek to reduce its environmental footprint by looking for new and better ways to reduce its reliance on natural resources.

A rain chain made of copper colored tulip flowers in front of a stone building
Two children sitting on a log in the woods behind a brown bulldog puppy and a patch of bluebells
A happy, wet, border collie splashes through a lake
Young red Siberian kitten laying in the grass and looking up at an orange and brown butterfly on a pink flower

Paw-sitive Vibes Only →

Modern Pet Care

With all new, top-of-the-line equipment and a gorgeous new facility, we’re modernizing the entire pet care experience. Our hybrid primary-and-emergency care model eliminates day-to-ER transfers, reducing stress on both pets and owners, while also allowing for consistency in treatment planning and standard of care.