For Pet's Sake

Decatur, GA

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At a glance

Facility type
Veterinary Practice
Practice tier
General
Clinic type
Standalone
Operating status
Operational
Appointment model
Appointment
24/7 care
No
Accepting new patients
Yes

Species treated

Exotic Companion Mammal Reptile Amphibian Avian

Services

General Practice Wellness Vaccination Surgery Dentistry Imaging In House Lab Hospitalization Boarding Grooming End Of Life

Amenities & accessibility

Appointments
Appointment requiredAppointments recommended
Service options
Onsite services
Amenities
Restroom
Crowd
LGBTQ+ friendly
Accessibility
Wheelchair accessible entranceWheelchair accessible parking lotWheelchair accessible restroomWheelchair accessible seating

Overview

We are a unique veterinary hospital dedicated solely to exotic animals. Our staff's mission is to give the highest standard of veterinary care by providing professional, affordable, and advanced veterinary services

Recognizing a need for professional avian and exotic animal care, Dr. Mimi Shepherd started For Pet's Sake in 1987 as a house-call service. From day one, she saw only avian and exotic animals. In 1990, Dr. Shepherd opened the doors to the avian and exotic animal hospital. Dr. Shepherd received her Diplomate ABVP (Avian) status in 1995. In 1996, Dr. Shepherd hired vet student Jason Hutcheson as her assistant while he was completing his veterinary degree. In 2001, Dr. Shepherd hired Dr. Jason Hutcheson as an Associate Veterinarian. In 2006, Dr. Shepherd sold the practice to Dr. Jason Hutcheson. The practice has added new associate veterinarians over the years: Dr. Holly Burchfield (2015), Dr. Kelsey Paras (2019-2024), Dr. Julia Hill (2020), Dr. Mary Russell (2025), and Dr. Shelby Parks (2025-2026). The practice is now seeing more exotic pets than ever before. In 2021, the practice moved in to its new location at 1058 Mistletoe Road. The new location has an expanded hospital and boarding facilities, more exam rooms, an updated laboratory, digital radiography, and a dedicated surgical suite

Mission — Our staff's mission is to give the highest standard of veterinary care by providing professional, affordable, and advanced veterinary services

Care capabilities

Emergency
Urgent Care Only

Team at a glance

4
Veterinarians (DVM)
2
Support staff
6
Total team

Individual names, titles & bios are in the practice intelligence layer below.

Technology & equipment

digital radiography

Services in detail

AcupunctureBoardingDentistryDiagnostic ImagingExamsGroomingIntensive CareLaser TherapySurgery and Anesthesia

Memberships

Association of Avian VeterinariansAssociation of Reptilian and Amphibian VeterinariansAssociation of Exotic Mammal VeterinariansAmerican Veterinary Medical AssociationGeorgia Veterinary Medical Association

Appointments & hours

Monday through Friday 9am-6pm and Saturday 9am-3pm

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Frequently asked

Is For Pet's Sake accepting new patients?+

Yes — For Pet's Sake is currently accepting new patients.

Does For Pet's Sake offer emergency or urgent care?+

For Pet's Sake offers urgent care appointments most days of the week (not a 24/7 ER).

Does For Pet's Sake treat exotic pets?+

Yes — For Pet's Sake offers care for exotic pets in addition to small animals.

What services does For Pet's Sake offer?+

For Pet's Sake offers General Practice, Wellness, Vaccination, Surgery, Dentistry, Imaging, In House Lab, Hospitalization, and more.

When was For Pet's Sake established?+

For Pet's Sake has served the Decatur, GA community since 1987.

Practice Intel

Inside the full profile

  • Ownership & corporate structure
  • Team & DVM count
  • Hiring & expansion signals
  • Key contacts — owner & medical director
  • Practice history — ownership, pricing & quality shifts
  • Capability signals — gaps & confirmed services

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Data as of July 2026. VetPulse aggregates public-record and licensing data; it does not represent the practice directly.