05/27/2026
Today, Firgrove Veterinary Clinic closes one chapter and begins another.
After nearly five decades of leading Firgrove Veterinary Clinic, Dr. Susan Shirley is passing the hospital into the hands of Dr. Debra Nicholson and Veterinary Roots — marking the continuation of a legacy that began in 1979.
Firgrove started as a mixed animal practice at a very different time in veterinary medicine. Over the decades, the hospital evolved alongside medicine itself — adapting, growing, and continuing to serve the community while never losing sight of what mattered most: the animals, the people who love them, and the team caring for them.
Dr. Shirley has spent nearly 50 years building Firgrove with heart.
She has been a trailblazer for women in veterinary medicine, a mentor to countless people in this profession, and a veterinarian who always believed doing what was right mattered more than doing what was easiest or most profitable.
That mindset shaped this hospital.
It shaped the culture, the medicine, the relationships, and the trust this community has placed in Firgrove for generations.
And while ownership is changing, the heart of Firgrove is not.
DR SHIRLEY WILL CONTINUE WORKING AT THE HOSPITAL, and our team is not going anywhere. The people our clients know and trust will still be here caring for this community and its pets every day.
Please join us in congratulating Dr. Shirley on an incredible legacy and everything she has built over the last 47 years.
As Firgrove moves into its next chapter, we are incredibly grateful that legacy will continue under the leadership of Dr. Debra Nicholson and Veterinary Roots.
Dr. Nicholson is the sole veterinarian owner of Veterinary Roots, a parent company founded on the belief that veterinary hospitals should remain veterinarian-led. Like Dr. Shirley, she believes veterinary medicine is about community, relationships, mentorship, and caring for people and pets the right way.
Through organizations like Rainier Animal Fund, Dr. Nicholson has already shown a deep commitment to helping pets and families in our community access care when they need it most — something that aligns closely with the values Dr. Shirley built Firgrove on from the beginning.
We look forward to continuing to serve you and your beloved pets for years to come. ❤️🐾