For far too long, pet parents in San Luis Obispo County have had to travel upwards of 1½ to 2 hours to access 24/7 emergency care or comprehensive veterinary specialty services because this advanced level of care simply wasn’t available locally.
Not anymore.
Board-certified veterinary surgeon Joseph Raleigh, DVM, DACVS-SA and emergency veterinarian Ethan McEnroe, DVM seized the opportunity to fill this critical gap, opening Cerro Alto Veterinary Specialty & Emergency Hospital in the Fall of 2025. This brand-new facility is the first-ever local veterinary hospital to offer an array of advanced specialty services under one roof as well as around-the-clock emergency and critical care.
But healing seriously ill pets through expert clinical care is just the beginning of what Cerro Alto offers. The practice is equally committed to teaching—sharing knowledge through seminars, workshops, and clinical research publications to elevate the standard of veterinary care across the region and the nation. Why? To help build a strong regional network of veterinary professionals empowered to provide the best-possible care for every pet, while continuing to expand the possibilities for animal care more broadly.
Notably, Cerro Alto’s cofounders trained at UC Davis School of Veterinary Medicine, the nation’s top-ranked veterinary school. They remain linked to this renowned institution through teaching and research, bringing its ethos of innovation to SLO County. These strong connections to UC Davis also give them an edge in recruiting top talent to the area.
It’s a win-win for everyone in this community who cares about pet health:
It’s also important to note that Cerro Alto Veterinary Specialty & Emergency Hospital is an independent, locally owned facility. Here, the focus is on meeting the needs of the community—not those of shareholders. Rather, Cerro Alto is here to serve pets, their people, the referring veterinarian community, and our staff.
How can we serve you today?