Our Story
The simple dream of a young man in high school was to own a business that allowed him to give back to his community and provide for his family long before knowing what vocation he would choose. For Dr. Eddy Grimes, Southcentral Veterinary Services is that career dream come true.
Dr. Grimes grew up in the Richardsville community, in north Warren County. He developed a passion for agriculture early in life while helping on his family's farm. Their farming operation consisted of beef cattle, hay, and tobacco. Like most that grow up around agriculture, his family instilled the importance and need for hard work, diligence, and perseverance. While in high school, he was offered two pieces of advice by his parents which would ultimately foster his decision to pursue veterinary medicine: “When you enjoy what you do, it is not always work” and “When you have a passion for your work, the good Lord will provide for you and your family, all while allowing you to give more than you receive.” These words of wisdom motivated Dr. Grimes to remain connected to the agricultural community after graduation from Warren East High School and eventually grow that connection into an entrepreneurial venture. As a promise to his parents, he agreed to attend college at Western Kentucky University for one semester despite wanting to make farming his full-time job. Little did he know, this one semester would lead him down the path of earning a doctorate in veterinary medicine.
Through faith and hard work, along with the help and support of family and friends, Dr. Grimes graduated in December of 1999 from Western Kentucky University with a degree in Animal Science. He was then accepted in the spring of 2000 to Auburn University’s College of Veterinary Medicine Class of 2004. In August of 2000, Dr. Grimes and his new bride, Nicole, started their new adventure by loading their belongings into a 16-foot cattle trailer and moving south to Sweet Home Alabama. Dr. Grimes’ desire to have his own practice was solidified while still a veterinary student, and he began the initial stages of formulating a plan to accomplish this goal. After receiving his Doctorate in Veterinary Medicine, Dr. Grimes spent the next six years working as an associate in Horse Cave, Kentucky and Morgantown, Kentucky gaining the knowledge and experience needed to start and own a veterinary practice.
In 2010, after the passing of his daughter from a terminal disease, Dr. Grimes' determination to open his own practice was fueled by the realization that tomorrow isn’t promised. No more excuses. In May 2010, real estate was purchased which was to become the home of Southcentral Veterinary Services. The property had previously been a canine training and boarding facility, which was in much need of remodeling to meet the needs for Dr. Grimes’ vision. With significant help from family and friends during the remodeling process, along with many late nights and hard work, SVS was ready to open our doors on January 11th, 2011. Despite having snow on the ground, schools being closed, and a “no show” first appointment, the dream was born! And we have been blessed to grow more with each day and year.
In 2014, we began our second remodel with the expansion of small animal surgery and hospitalization. Over the next 8 years, our vision would continue to grow, allowing us to incorporate additional services, such as grooming, orthopedics, and ultrasound. As well, we fulfilled the need for more access to care by increasing the number of highly skilled team members and welcoming our first associate veterinarian.
With the changing needs that have developed since the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic, a definitive, crucial need for more modern and expanded facilities became apparent in order to better serve the community as families welcomed more pets to their households. SVS was overfilled with gratitude for being able to care for these new family pets.
New plans were on the horizon…
After almost two years of planning, construction for our newest addition began in June 2022. With this expansion, SVS added 3000 square feet. This allowed for four additional exam rooms and a larger treatment area, hospitalization accommodations, and convenient parking. The addition of a barn for future haul-in capabilities was built to allow SVS to better serve the large animal clientele. With this state-of-the-art space, Southcentral Veterinary Services is poised to be strong for years to come.
We are proud to say that SVS has been named “Best of Bowling Green” in three categories multiple times since 2018 and was honored to be recognized by U.S. Senator Rand Paul (R-KY) as the U.S. Senate Small Business of the Week on August 12, 2021.
Dr. Grimes and his family can be found giving back to their community by sponsoring local youth sports teams, school fundraisers, and providing job and mentoring opportunities for high school and college students interested in pursuing a career in veterinary medicine. The SVS family takes pride in the relationships we have forged over the years. From our team—to our clients—to our community supporters, we couldn’t be more grateful. As SVS looks toward the future, we are excited to continue being your hometown veterinarian. “From large to small we love them all.”