Our History
Our namesake was a lover of animals and an advocate of the human animal bond. We are proud to honor her legacy every day as we treat more animals than ever before in our 50 years.
How did we get our start?
DoveLewis Emergency Animal Hospital was founded in 1973 by Mr. A.B. Lewis, in cooperation with the Portland Veterinary Medical Association, and in memory of Mr. Lewis’ late wife, Dove.
Who was Dove Lewis?
Dove Lewis and her husband, A.B., were breeders of Standard Poodles, Yorkshire Terriers, and Shih Tzus. Dove and A.B. ran the family kennel and dog grooming business (very upscale for its time), and because of her talent and special way with animals, people from across the country sent their dogs to Dove. She loved all animals, especially strays and she adopted animals of all kinds. At one point, there were 14 dogs in the family!!
Dove Lewis’ legacy of loving all animals and promoting the human-animal bond lives on in the people who love and support our hospital and community programs. She is a true symbol of the human-animal bond, and the DoveLewis mission.
Remembering Our Founder, Dr. Werner
Dr. Dick Werner touched countless lives throughout his years practicing. To him, his greatest accomplishments were in helping others, pets and people alike. This spirit is embedded in so much of DoveLewis’ identity since Dr. Werner, A.B. and Dove Lewis first talked about the idea of this organization in 1973.
For Ron Morgan, DoveLewis President & CEO, it was a privilege to have a relationship with the person who founded the organization that he now leads. "We developed a close friendship, and he had a unique ability to anchor me in the vision of what we were always meant to be. He was generous with his time and his love for DoveLewis never waned."
