Our Impact
NorthStar VETS® aims to have a positive impact in meaningful ways, including protecting our environment and supporting the communities we serve.
Green Building Initiatives
Our Robbinsville main hospital, built in 2011 where a circa-1760 farmhouse and barn once stood, was designed to enhance productivity and patient care while reducing our carbon footprint:
- Our facility was carefully built around many of the centuries-old trees on the property and we planted trees at a nearby community park to offset the loss of any that were removed to make room for the new hospital
- A geothermal heating and cooling system reduces energy demands year-round
- Abundant windows provide natural light and reduce the need for artificial lighting
- To minimize electricity use in our 24/7 hospital, lights automatically turn off when a room is no longer occupied
- In 2020, solar panels were installed to supply up to 20% of our hospital's energy needs
Recycling and Reducing Waste
We continually strive to do more to create less waste:
- We enforce recycling initiatives with receptacles in all our facilities
- We’ve replaced plastic pharmacy bags with reusable paper bags
- We participate in ink cartridge and battery recycling programs
- Centralized inventory management optimizes purchasing efficiency and reduces waste
- We’ve been a paperless office for more than a decade, reducing literally tons of paper waste
- Bricks and hand-hewn oak trusses from the Robbinsville site's original home and barn were salvaged and repurposed in our hospital's reception area
Community Involvement
We believe that NorthStar VETS’ role extends beyond the walls of our hospitals and into the communities we serve. We work with organizations that share our purpose of improving the lives of animals and the people who love them. For example:
- Partner with the American Red Cross Penn-Jersey Blood Services Region for an annual human and companion animal blood drive
- Sponsor the Dog of the Day adoption program at every Trenton Thunder baseball game
- Provide free annual eye exams for service dogs
- Work with military and police dogs through such organizations as the Monmouth County Sheriff’s K-9 Unit and the U.S. Police Canine Association
- Support numerous animal shelters and rescue groups including Friends of the Burlington County Animal Shelter, Monmouth County SPCA, New Life Animal Rescue, ONE LOVE Animal Rescue, Pitties and Pals, and The Crossings Animal Society
- Sponsor and/or participate in an array of community events including the American Cancer Society Bark for Life Relay, DogFest Philly-NJ, and Trails 4 Tails Fest
- Raise funds for vet-i-care, a nonprofit organization that helps families who can’t afford specialty veterinary care
- Offer free education classes for pet parents about animal safety and infectious diseases
- Welcome Boy and Girl Scout troops, church groups, nonprofits, and the community at large for hospital tours
To learn more about our community outreach initiatives, please contact us.
