PawsFirst dispatches emergency-trained Licensed Veterinary Technicians to your home, with a supervising DVM on live video for every call. Be the first to know when we launch in Greater Birmingham.
On a Saturday afternoon, Venus — a beloved family dog in Bessemer, Alabama — was playing in the yard when something went terribly wrong. She began showing signs of distress. Her family didn't recognize it immediately as aspiration — food material entering her lungs and blocking her airway.
They tried everything they could think of — trying to help her clear her throat, trying to get her to swallow, trying to get her to vomit. But they were working from the wrong diagnosis. And every minute spent trying the wrong thing was a minute the right thing wasn't happening.
When the family realized this was beyond anything they could handle at home, it was a Saturday. No veterinary offices were open. The nearest emergency animal hospital was more than thirty minutes away.
They drove as fast as they safely could. Venus was barely breathing when they walked through the door. The veterinary team performed CPR for twelve minutes. There was no response. The family made the decision to stop.
Venus died that day.
"What if someone had been able to come to us? What if, in those first minutes — before we understood what was happening, before the thirty-minute drive, before it was too late — a trained veterinarian had been there? What would Venus's chances have been?"
— Ann Johnson, FounderVenus's family cannot answer that question. No one can. But they know this: she deserved the chance to find out. And she didn't get it — not because no one cared, but because the infrastructure to help her simply didn't exist.
PawsFirst Emergency Veterinary Response was created to change that. We are building the service that Venus needed — mobile, 24-hour, staffed by emergency-trained Licensed Veterinary Technicians operating under real-time DVM supervision. A unit that comes to you before you have to make that thirty-minute drive with a pet who is barely breathing.
We promise that we will answer. When you call us on a Saturday afternoon, we will answer. When your pet cannot breathe and you do not know what is wrong, we will come to you. We will be fast. We will be skilled. We will be kind. And we will fight for your pet's life as if they were our own.
In memory of Venus.Response time is a clinical variable, not a logistical metric. Every minute saved is a chance preserved.
Eliminating the thirty-minute drive that cost Venus her chance. Emergency care should meet you where you are.
The same standard at 3 AM as at noon. Emergency-trained LVTs. Real-time DVM oversight. Protocol-driven. Accountable for every outcome.
Families in crisis deserve truth, not comfort. Both if possible. Truth always.
The dog in a mobile home deserves the same response as the dog in a mansion. No tiered care.
We will not be perfect. We will always be improving. Every call teaches us something.
Fully equipped mobile units staffed by emergency-trained Licensed Veterinary Technicians, with a supervising DVM on a live video link for every dispatch.
Emergency intubation and aspiration clearance for pets experiencing respiratory distress or choking emergencies.
Rapid assessment and stabilization. IV access, fluid therapy, and critical medication administration on scene.
Monitored ambulance transport to partner emergency hospitals with continuous veterinary care during transit.
A supervising DVM joins a live video link the moment we dispatch — guiding our LVT and your family before we even arrive, and throughout the call.
Wound management, fracture stabilization, oxygen therapy, and cardiac monitoring at your location.
We treat your pet like family. Every decision is guided by what's best for your animal's health and comfort.
When every second counts, we've made getting help as simple as possible.
24/7 dispatch connects you instantly.
A supervising DVM joins the video link immediately and guides care in real time.
Fully equipped ambulance with emergency team on scene.
Treatment begins immediately. Hospital transport if needed.
Your answers help us design the best possible service. Takes under 2 minutes.
Your responses help us build a better service for Birmingham's pets. We'll keep you updated on our launch.
We're building a referral network. Whether you're a DVM, LVT, clinic owner, or veterinary student — we want to hear from you.
We'll be in touch soon to discuss partnership opportunities. Your patients deserve the best emergency care available.
Venus's story taught us that education is the first line of defense. These resources help you recognize emergencies and act in the critical first minutes.
Learn the signs of aspiration pneumonia — the emergency that took Venus. Gagging, labored breathing, blue gums, and foamy discharge are warning signs every pet owner should know.
Coming SoonWould you know what to do if your pet stopped breathing? Our upcoming Pet CPR course will teach you chest compressions, rescue breathing, and choking response for dogs and cats.
Course Coming SoonIn veterinary emergency medicine, the first 60 minutes determine outcomes. Learn what qualifies as a true emergency versus what can wait for your regular vet.
Coming SoonAlabama summers are dangerous for pets. Learn to recognize heatstroke, snakebite, and toxic plant exposure — and what to do in the critical first minutes before help arrives.
Coming SoonBuild a pet first-aid kit. Know your nearest emergency vet. Have your pet's medical records accessible. Preparation can save precious minutes when they matter most.
Coming SoonWhen you arrive at an emergency vet, how is your pet prioritized? Understanding triage levels helps you communicate effectively and set realistic expectations.
Coming SoonBe the first to know when new educational resources, articles, and Pet CPR courses are available.
Enter your zip code to let us know where you need us. This helps us plan our service area.
PawsFirst is coming to Birmingham. Be the first to know when we're ready to take our first call.