Smiling blond person in blazer behind wood table with fluffy cat and bronze trophy, coastal view — Janice Hobbs (pictured with her cat, Hamilton) provided a significant naming gift to bring the UC Davis Hobbs Veterinary Center to fruition. Photo: Don Preisler

Philanthropy at Work

A New Era for Veterinary Care in Southern California

by Amanda Price
October 25, 2026

The Janice K. Hobbs UC Davis Veterinary Medical Center Southern California opened in October 2026, welcoming patients with expanded specialties and 24/7 emergency and critical care services.

The new center—an expansion of the UC Veterinary Medical Center, San Diego—realizes the school’s vision to serve more animals throughout Southern California and beyond. The current San Diego center was established more than 20 years ago with support from a state allocation intended to expand veterinary care in the region.

The new UC Davis Hobbs Veterinary Center offers 23,000 square feet of space—approximately seven times larger than the current facility—and feature advanced technology and equipment designed to support complex specialty and emergency care.

The center also creates new opportunities for teaching, training, and clinical research. Additional specialties are planned in the coming years with the goal of becoming the leading tertiary referral center in Southern California. With the growth, the center is expected to increase capacity from approximately 4,200 patients to as many as 15,000 annually.

Philanthropy Brings Vision to Life

“The excitement surrounding the UC Davis expansion is contagious,” said Dr. Fred Pike, the center’s medical director and one of its surgeons. “In collaboration with the school’s veterinary hospital in Davis, we will offer academic-level care in a clinical practice setting. Our veterinary team of professionals is devoted to offering innovative health care to our patients and our clients in a compassionate and financially responsible manner.”

The center was made possible in part through a naming gift from Janice K. Hobbs, whose belief in the importance of veterinary care began at an early age. When she was young, her cat Tootsie was taken by a coyote. Hobbs chased the coyote, until it released her beloved cat. Tootsie’s injuries were extensive and required significant veterinary care for her to survive.

“I was willing to do anything to save her,” Hobbs recalled. “So that's when I realized my passion and what I love. I knew I wouldn’t become a veterinarian, but if I could do something for them in the future, I was going to do so.”

Hobbs’ naming gift helped accelerate the school’s plan to expand its presence in San Diego, turning a long-held vision into a reality that will benefit thousands more animals and families. Her belief in the importance of veterinary care continues to drive her commitment.

Hobbs’ generosity also inspired others to join the effort. Gifts from additional benefactors have helped equip and prepare the center for opening, supporting spaces, technology and programs that will expand access to advanced veterinary care.

We are deeply grateful to the philanthropists whose vision and generosity have made the UC Davis Hobbs Veterinary Center possible.”
—Martin Durham, executive director of the center

“Animals cannot speak for themselves,” she said. “They cannot tell us what they need or how they feel. So, we really need great expertise, compassion, and access to the best care possible. UC Davis is the best veterinary school in the country. The opportunity to collaborate on this project has been wonderful. This is going to be a state-of-the-art specialty hospital that will serve animals from Southern California and probably even in communities beyond.”

Hobbs’ generosity also inspired others to join the effort. Gifts from additional benefactors have helped equip and prepare the center for opening, supporting spaces, technology and programs that will expand access to advanced veterinary care.

“We are deeply grateful to the philanthropists whose vision and generosity have made the UC Davis Hobbs Veterinary Center possible,” said Martin Durham, executive director of the center.

We are deeply grateful to the philanthropists whose vision and generosity have made the UC Davis Hobbs Veterinary Center possible,”

“Their investment is more than a new facility—it is an investment in advancing veterinary medicine, expanding access to world-class specialty care, and strengthening the human-animal bond. Together with the renowned UC Davis Weill School of Veterinary Medicine, we are excited to help transform the landscape of veterinary specialty medicine in Southern California while building trusted partnerships with our referring veterinary community and delivering an exceptional experience for every client and every patient.”

Continued donor partnership will help provide advanced equipment and technology, support compassionate care for animals whose families need financial assistance, and create new opportunities for clinical innovation, education and research. As the center grows, philanthropy will help ensure its teams have the resources to provide exceptional care and respond to the evolving needs of animals, families and the veterinary community throughout Southern California.

Hobbs continues to champion the effort alongside other supporters, helping ensure the facility will serve as many animals as possible, with a wide array of specialties available. She looks forward to the center’s opening and to seeing its growth in the years ahead.