Every month we feature one of our neighborhood businesses, focusing on their community involvement and service. This month’s Business of the Month is Hawthorne Hills Veterinary Hospital, located at 6512 12th Avenue NE, owned and run by Robin Riedinger, DVM and her husband, Peter Reid. They began their business 25 years ago in Hawthorne Hills, but when the building they were in was sold they looked for a nearby location with good parking and access to transit in a vibrant, growing neighborhood. They landed in Roosevelt and moved in February of 2020. They were welcomed by COVID just two weeks later, among other challenges. They are now well entrenched in the neighborhood and celebrated five years in their current location this spring.
When they moved into the space, there was parking out front that was essential to their business; you can’t take your sick Great Dane on light rail! Unfortunately, when the repaving project on 12th Avenue was completed, those spaces had been eliminated, which has caused some disruption and a substantial loss of business. They are in contact with the Department of Transportation to ensure that spaces on 66th not taken up by RPZ (restricted parking zone) permit parking remain available to their customers. (They encourage your feedback to the city about the importance of paid parking for customers accessing all Roosevelt businesses).
Dr. Riedinger has always loved animals and knew she wanted to work more closely with them. Her love of animals led her to spend much of her free time volunteering in veterinary clinics, then working in them as a paid employee. At that time the profession was dominated by men, but the vets for whom she worked were very encouraging, and eventually she took their advice and applied to veterinary school. Getting accepted to veterinary school is highly competitive and while she didn’t get in the first time around, she persisted, graduated cum laude, and has never looked back.
Dr. Riedinger, her associates, Dr. Pietraniec and Dr. Chou, and her staff practice a philosophy of pet care focused on ensuring the emotional as well as physical well-being of the animals in their care. The practice is enthusiastic about developing a relationship with the pet and client together. That means taking time during visits, listening, and utilizing the principles of FearFree™ care. The veterinary hospital is a place where the animals may undergo some difficult things, but where they are also loved and pampered. The veterinarian’s office need not be a place your dog or cat fears, and she and her staff do everything they can to make this a reality.
Hawthorne Hills is an AAHA (American Animal Hospital Association) accredited hospital, one of only 15% of hospitals nationwide who have achieved this level of recognition. They adhere to a high level of care which embraces not only the health care for your pet, but is also focused on the education and training of their team. Over the years, 13 employees have gone on to veterinary school and many others are participating in other associated fields. Dr. Riedinger is proud of the success of her current and former employees.
As a full-service hospital, Dr. Riedinger and her team focus on outpatient care, as well as complicated medical cases, surgeries such as removing masses, radiology, and urgent care. Dental care can be particularly challenging, but the vets and staff are well-trained in the use of the proper drugs and monitoring to help ensure your pet is getting the best care. More complex procedures that require a veterinary specialist, such as orthopedic or spinal surgeries, are referred to others.
No matter where they have been, Peter and Robin have engaged with their community, advocating for improvements and running events such as charity dog washes, collections for shelters, sponsoring local sports teams, and donating “A Day With a Veterinarian” to local school auctions. Their philosophy is that when they give back to the community, they are participating in making the neighborhood a better place for everyone. They have been stalwarts of the Roosevelt-Ravenna Business Alliance since its inception. We congratulate them on being our July 2025 Business of the Month!
Each month, the Roosevelt Neighborhood Association’s Business of the Month recognizes a neighborhood business for their great service and community involvement. To learn more, please email contact@rooseveltseattle.org.