Capital Veterinary Specialists Expands to Walton County

Capital Veterinary Specialists celebrated the groundbreaking of its modern new specialty veterinary hospital in Walton County, Florida, on March 6, marking a major expansion of advanced specialty and emergency animal care in Northwest Florida.

The future 20,000-square-foot facility will anchor a 7-acre medical campus, with a possible additional 7 acres reserved for future expansion. This project is expected to create approximately 100 jobs and serve pet owners across the Florida panhandle and neighboring regions who previously traveled long distances for specialty care.

Once complete, the hospital will be the only specialty veterinary facility of its kind within nearly 300 miles, dramatically improving access to advanced treatment for companion animals and supporting a rapidly growing regional population.

"For too long, families in this region have had to travel hours during medical emergencies to access advanced care for their pets. What Capital Veterinary Specialists are doing with this new facility changes that reality and brings life-saving treatment closer to home," says Stephen Favaloro, DVM, of Forest Park Animal Hospital, in Panama City, Florida.

Designed to deliver academic-level veterinary medicine in a community setting, the hospital will feature advanced diagnostic capabilities, including CT and MRI, comprehensive specialty services, and emergency response capabilities supported by a helipad, making it one of the most advanced animal healthcare facilities in the region.

"This groundbreaking represents our long-term commitment to expanding access to life-saving specialty care in an underserved region of Florida," said Kevin Drygas, DVM, DACVS, owner and lead surgeon. "For years, pet owners in this area have traveled hours for advanced treatment. This facility will bring world-class veterinary medicine closer to home and transform how emergency and specialty care is delivered across Florida's panhandle."

A Decade of Regional Investment
While the new hospital marks a major milestone, Capital Veterinary Specialists has served the Walton County area for nearly a decade to meet growing community needs:

- 2016: The practice began seeing referred cases from the Walton County area and launched a dedicated transport service to its Tallahassee hospital due to increasing demand.
- 2019: Capital Veterinary Specialists established a satellite clinic, providing specialty services in the Santa Rosa Beach corridor.
- 2023: The practice expanded to offer full-time dermatology services locally while continuing its regional transport program through its referral network.
- 2026: Capital Veterinary Specialists opened an urgent care hospital in Santa Rosa Beach to support immediate and emergency needs for pets in the community.

Leadership says the new campus represents the natural evolution of years of growing demand for advanced veterinary medicine and rapid regional growth.

"This investment reflects both the rapid growth of the Florida panhandle and its increasing expectations for advanced animal healthcare," said Dr. Drygas. "We are building a destination for specialty veterinary medicine that supports local families, referring veterinarians, and the regional economy while positioning Walton and Leon County as a hub for advanced university-level veterinary care."

This facility will enhance emergency response capabilities, strengthen the regional veterinary referral network, and provide expanded specialty services for companion animals across multiple counties in Florida, Georgia, and Alabama.

Construction is expected to begin immediately following the groundbreaking ceremony, and the hospital is set to open in early 2027.

About Capital Veterinary Specialists
Capital Veterinary Specialists (CVS) is a leading provider of specialty and emergency veterinary care serving North Florida and surrounding regions. Through advanced diagnostics, specialty treatment services, and a collaborative referral network, CVS delivers comprehensive medical care for companion animals while supporting veterinarians and pet owners with innovative treatment solutions. CVS currently has hospital locations in Tallahassee and Santa Rosa Beach, Florida.

Media Contact:
Lauren Helm, APR, CPRC
[email protected]