TotalBond Veterinary Hospitals owes its origin to Forestbrook Animal Hospital in Gastonia, NC, which opened in 1979. In 1984, a small house was renovated in the Lake Wylie area, a scant 10 miles away across the SC state line, into Bethel Animal Clinic. Continuing the company's growth, New Hope Animal Clinic was opened in Gastonia in the summer of 1985. Dr. Mark E. Epstein (UGA '85) joined the practice that same summer at Forestbrook. He joined in partnership of all three practices in 1987, and shortly thereafter, oversaw certification of all three practices by the American Animal Hospital Association.

Also in 1987, Dr. Herrick R. Hay (UGA '85) joined the practice as an associate, and a year later, was welcomed as a full partner. 1991 was a busy year, as a 3600 square foot facility was opened in northwest Mecklenburg County, called Paw Creek Animal Hospital.

Also, Bethel moved its practice 1/2 mile away to a new 3800 ft2 building, nearly three times its original size and allowing to provide all the services of a fully self-contained hospital. Additionally, New Hope was upgraded to a full-service hospital.

In subsequent years, the practiced continued to add to a slate of talented and dedicated doctors and staff, as well as the latest equipment, technology, and expertise (including Dr. Epstein and Hay’s board certification as specialists in canine and feline medicine and surgery.

Dr. Epstein, in addition to his clinical duties at Forestbrook, assumed the role of Medical Director for TotalBond Veterinary Hospitals, responsible for the medical quality control, mentoring, and training of the professional staff. The fall of 1999 brought the establishment of our Davidson location, in the college town of the same name and home to Dr. Hay, who is now its Director and proprietor. 2000 brought not only a new millennium but a new location, the beautiful 5000 ft2 Carmel hospital, in the bustling south Charlotte suburb of Pineville. In 2001 the practice took on its current, most descriptive identity, TotalBond Veterinary Hospitals. Dr. Charles McLaughlin (WSU ‘69) as CEO ably leads TBVH with Drs. Epstein and Hay and their talented, energetic partners, Drs Joyce Carnevale (Cornell ’90) and Dr. Jodi Werfal (LSU ’91). 2004 saw the addition of Veterinary Home Care, a mobile clinic serving mostly Gaston out of our Forestbrook facility.  In 2005, our newest location, Mountain Island Lake opened, now under the directorship of Dr. Natalie Bryant, at the intersection of Hgwy 16 and Mt. Holly-Huntersville Rd. (Callabridge Commons Shopping Ctr) in north Charlotte.  Drs. Lauren Wagman and Veronica Gandara round out our staff of talented, compassionate clinicians.

We strive continually and constantly to improve our capabilities of serving both our clients and their pets...that work is never done! Our doctors and staff share common visions of superior patient care; compassion, patience, and understanding; and uniquely personal service. While each of our hospitals may have a slightly different atmosphere, these basic core values are shared uncompromisingly between them.