Started two years ago, the center is taking advantage of technological advances in medicine, providing care to animals once available only to humans, such as a CT (computed tomography) scanner for diagnostic imaging and an array of physical therapy treatments, including therapeutic ultrasound, bioelectric stimulation and hydrotherapy.
"This facility is the first of its kind in the country", Shealy says. "Basically, we plowed fertile ground and it's taken off. It's made a complete difference in my practice."

While most of Shealy's surgical patients are referred, the physical therapy patients do not require referral. Although cats are brought in occasionally for physical therapy, the center's primary patients are dogs. In two years the center has treated 400 of them.

Not one to rest on his laurels, Shealy has also joined with Dr. Bob Taylor, a veterinary surgeon in Denver, to form Animal Rehabilitation Central, a company designed to promote physical therapy in veterinary medicine.

"Fifteen years ago Bob tried to convince the profession that physical therapy was something to look into, but no one ever took him seriously", Shealy recalls. "Two years ago we thought about it again and decided to do it. I have the treatment center here, Bob has one in Denver, and we have a catalog of physical therapy supplies we sell to vets around the country interested in developing physical therapy in their practices."

Although his various ventures,Veterinary Specialists of the Southeast, Advanced Veterinary Diagnostic & Treatment Center and Animal Rehabilitation Central, might be considered enough to keep Shealy busy, he has his eye on the future.

"The next thing we're planning is a state-of-the-art cancer treatment center for animals", he says. "As soon as the IRS approves our 501C3 status, we're going to get to work gaining philanthropic support to build a facility on the lot next door."

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