We are passionate about the emotional and physical wellbeing of pets. We take the ‘pet’ out of ‘petrified’ because fear free visits are important to us. We use expert techniques that reduce fear, stress, and anxiety during doctor examinations, such as considerate approach, gentle control, play, and behavior conditioning. Pets like going to the vet when they come to Grace Veterinary Center! We use peanut butter, squeeze cheese (Dr. Laura Laxton’s favorite!) and other tasty treats for distractions during procedures, such as vaccinations and lab testing. We use gentle touch, stress reducing pheromones, and cozy surfaces for exam tables. For unique pets, we also offer pre-visit medications, so they have a relaxing “spa day” experience. Our mission: Fear free pets and wagging tails!
A Message about COVID-19
A few things to remember to keep your family and our team safe from coronavirus:
- Masks are required for entry. If you do not have a mask, then we will provide you with one for a personal protection fee of $1.
- One client will be allowed per pet appointment. Additional family members should stay home with the exception of caring for small children.
- All medication refills, food pick-ups, or lab sample drop offs will remain curbside to limit the number of people in reception in Estero.
- If you would like to continue curbside service for an individual health risk, we are happy to accommodate.
- If you feel sick, then please stay home. You can schedule a virtual visit with one of our veterinarians via Zoom.
About Us
Our dedication to service is in our name – Grace – simple elegance for you and your pet. At Grace Veterinary Center, we believe in the importance of the human-animal bond by providing your family pet with fear free medicine, home-made pet nutrition, preventative care, medical services, and surgical needs.
As a family-owned animal hospital, we want your dog or cat to feel at home with us while receiving a high standard of medicine. Because wagging tails make us happy, our commitment to you is quality care and kindness.
Check out our event calendar on GraceVets Facebook group!
Grace Veterinary Hospital has several ways you can stay connected with our veterinary team! Check out the apps below and like us on Facebook & Instagram to learn more.
Grace Gazette
Stay up-to-date with everything going on at Grace Veterinary Center with our Grace’s Vet Gazette. Signup to get on our mailing list.
Grace’s Vet Gazette – Issue #1
Grace’s Vet Gazette – Issue #2
Tail Talk withDr. Laura
Podcasts
Upcoming Events
New! Puppy Yoga
Join us at Grace Veterinary Center for Puppy Yoga! It’s so much fun and a great way to change up your workout.
Around the Clinic
Services we Offer
Medical Services
If your pet is in need of care, Grace Vet Center in Estero, FL offers services for Dentistry, Cardiology, Dermatology, Radiology and other medical services for your pets.
Wellness and Vaccinations
A wellness examination is a routine medical exam of a healthy animal. The focus of a wellness visit is to ensure optimal health.
Surgical Services
At Grace Veterinary Center, we offer in-house surgical services, including Spaying & Neutering, as well as Soft Tissue surgery for various conditions.
Pediatrics
We specialize in pediatric medicine and see many puppies and kittens through our day here at Grace Veterinary. New puppy or kitten? Stop by and see us.
NEW!! Looking for a Payment Plan?
We’ve teamed up with Scratchpay to offer our customers a way to pay their veterinary procedures over time. This is a great service that takes away the anxiety of having to make hard decisions when it comes to the financial obligations your pet requires. Use the button below to apply.
Grace Veterinary center now accepts carecredit
We’ve teamed up with CareCredit to offer our customers a way to pay their veterinary procedures over time. Speak with you veterinarian for options.
Grace Veterinary center offers Telemedicine
I am now available by text and video via Zoom Video Conferencing. Please call the office to schedule an appointment.
OUR STAFF
Matt
Founder & Chief Everything Officer
Laura
Veterinarian & Chief Happiness Officer
Wilfred
Head of Treat Department
Dr. Laura Laxton
Hospital Administrator
Medical Director
Dr. Laura Laxton earned her doctorate from the University of Georgia College of Veterinary Medicine in 2015. She has a passion for supporting the human-animal bond by helping dogs, cats, and their humans too! As a small animal veterinarian, she has a focused interest in puppy pediatrics, animal behavior, nutrition, and virology (the study of viruses). She cares about your pet’s emotional well-being and uses Fear Free techniques to reduce pet stress and anxiety during examinations. Dr. Laura is also a certified Pet Nutrition Coach and creates tailored treatment plans for pets struggling with obesity. She enjoys spending her free time practicing yoga, kayaking, and watching movies with her husband Matthew, 5 dogs (Lindy, Cara, Wilfred, Cass, and Chuck), and caique parrot Peaches. She currently resides in Bonita Springs, Florida.
Dr. Ivia Caridad Alfonsao
Grace Veterinary Center
Veterinarian
Dr. Ivia Caridad Alfonso graduated in 2006 as a Doctor in Veterinary Medicine and Zootechny in Cuba. After graduation, she worked in the investigative field and did some house call service in Cuba. She came to the USA in 2011 and worked as a vet technician in Miami, then became licensed to practice veterinary medicine in 2015. She has been working in several hospitals in the Cape Coral and Englewood areas. Her favorite subject is internal medicine, and she loves cats. She is bilingual and resides in Cape Coral with her family. Her interests are spending time with her family, reading, and music.
Dr. Kristie Welsh
Grace Veterinary Center
Veterinarian
Dr. Kristie Welsh is originally from Kentucky, and has resided in Florida for almost 20 years. She earned her doctorate degree from Auburn University, College of Veterinary Medicine, Alabama in 2004. Her favorite part of being a veterinarian is establishing relationships with pet parents and their pets that blossom over many years, She is inspired to find ways to extend the lives of pets and increase the quality of their lives. This inspiration has led to her veterinary interests of tumor removal surgery, dentistry, genetics, and alternative pain relief measures such as cold laser therapy and acupuncture. She currently resides in Cape Coral with her husband Chris, her son, KC, and her 2 senior dachshunds, Keely and Kaiden.
Dr. Jessica Hernandez
Grace Veterinary Center
Veterinarian
Dr. Jessica Hernandez graduated in Veterinary Medicine and Zootechnics from the Agrarian University of Havana in 2013. Since she was a child she loved animals, she grew up on a small farm in Cuba surrounded by cows, horses, rabbits, goats, dogs and cats. From an early age she felt inclined to veterinary medicine. After her graduation she emigrated to Panama where she worked in a clinic and in turn collaborated with a shelter. In her first years in the US she worked as a CVT until she was revalidated in December 2019 as DVM. She is passionate about preventive medicine and internal medicine and overcoming any obstacles that come her way. Her favorite hobby is spending time with her family and her pet (Cuban Rat Terrier Mix) Yokitin. She is bilingual and currently resides in Lehigh Acres with her family.
Dr. Claire Nunn
Veterinarian
Dr. Claire Nunn is a Georgia native who graduated from the University of Georgia College of Veterinary Medicine in 2022. She has a passion for providing care for cats and senior pets. Her interests include nutrition, neurology, surgery, and preventative medicine. Dr. Nunn has received Fear Free training, and she places importance on making her patients as comfortable as possible during their visits. In her free time, she enjoys singing, reading, watching UGA football, exploring the outdoors, and relaxing at the pool or beach. She currently lives in Fort Myers with her fiancé Jeff, two cats (Gatsby and Lego), and dog Izzy.
Dr. Sandra Bates
Veterinarian
Dr. Sandra Bates is a University of Tennessee graduate who has been practicing veterinary medicine for 15 years. Her passion is for all things preventive care, internal medicine, and surgery. She has three cats named Leia, Izzy, and Sushi and a son named “Deuce”. She loves to go on long walks and travelling the world.
Dr. Lauren Chirnside
Veterinarian
Dr. Lauren Chirnside was born and raised in Kansas City, Missouri. She has dreamed of becoming a veterinarian since she was a small child. Animals have always been an integral part of her life. She played four years of collegiate softball at South Dakota State University while attaining her undergraduate degree. She earned her degree of veterinary medicine from Iowa State University. During her training, she realized she was passionate about client/patient interaction and creating the human/animal bond to provide comfort and confidence when making medical decisions. She enjoys pickleball, working out, fishing, and hunting in her spare time. She shares her life with two chocolate labs, Oakley and Remington. She also has two cats, Julian and Malcolm. Julian was her junior surgery patient in veterinary school and she adopted him.
Grace’s Gourmet Dog Food
