The philosophy and goal of Sandy Paws Animal Hospital is to provide the highest quality of personalized care and friendly service for our clients and patients. We will strive each day to treat every person and animal like our own family embracing their own unique needs. We are committed to our community’s health and want to learn and grow from our relationships with every service we provide. As a community based service, we help our clients care for their pets by providing excellence in care, quality products and a knowledgeable staff.
Feel free to contact us at 904-278-0600 so our friendly staff can answer any questions you may have.
Check out our website at sandypawsanimalhospital.com.- Read all about our staff and services!
About the Owner, Dr. Michelle Sands:
As the owner of Sandy Paws Animal Hospital I have realized my life long dream to bring family oriented care to clients and animals, supporting my mission of compassionate dedicated healthcare to my community. Throughout my childhood I could not resist bringing home ducks, baby bunnies and feeding feral cats. My every thought was to help those who could not help themselves. Much to the dismay of my family, there was a never ending stream of helpless wild animals being treated in our home from the age of 5 on.
Growing up in Oshkosh, Wisconsin, there was an excellent School of Veterinary Medicine in Madison, Wisconsin but I chose The University of Florida, “Go Gators! Get up and Go!” Even though I would always love my Green Bay Packers and Badgers, my love of “The Swamp” would be inevitable. This began a long adventure of self discovery and continued enforcement of my passion to be a steward of medicine for all animals. I earned a bachelor degree in Animal Science with a minor in Chemistry in 1997 followed by a degree in Veterinary Medicine in 2003. I have multiple certifications in Veterinary Medicine, as well as, practice experience in Florida, Virginia and Washington. My professional growth spans surgery, critical care, ophthalmology, dentistry , and general practice.
Outside of work I enjoy spending time with my son Reece(10) who shares my passion and dedication to our 7 animals, 4 cats and 3 dogs. This family of fur includes my black lab-Geo, Mini- a long-haired dachshund, a 160 pound Newfoundland- Goku, and Chewy, Ying, Luke and Leah-the cat pack( Star Wars all the way!) Never a dull moment in our house generously accepted by my supportive husband, Stephen. As a family we enjoy soccer and football games entertained by Reece who has become an amazing athlete. We stay active in the community by participating in the Spartan Run, River Run and local 5k’s as often as I can. The team at the clinic, Sandy Paws Fitness, also gets in on the fun with our participation as a clinic in the Terrains Race and the upcoming Mud Run this September. I do not just promote good healthcare within the clinic but within by own life.
Thank you to the community of Orange Park and the surrounding areas for making my clinic a successful resource for excellent care for all of our precious animals. Let’s continue to make our lives and the lives of our animals the best they can be!
