Mount Laurel Animal Hospital was started in 1976 by Edward M. Sleeper, VMD, who graduated from the University of Pennsylvania in 1973. The hospital actually had it's beginnings in the basement of a house in Moorestown, New Jersey, where Dr. Sleeper lived with his family. In 1979 the practice moved to 220 Mount Laurel Road, and the name was changed to reflect the new location. Initially, the farmhouse at 220 Mount Laurel Road was used as the clinic, while newer accommodations could be built in a barn on the property. The former building was occupied initially in 1980 and the building has undergone extensive modifications, with a major addition completed in 1987. The current newer hospital structure was completed in 1998, and we have coordinated services out of this facility since that time.

Animal Emergency Service of South Jersey was created in November 2003 by James M. Laessig, DVM, who graduated from Kansas State University in 1996. Prior to attending veterinary school, Dr. Laessig was a life-long resident of southern New Jersey. After completing his veterinary studies, he originally returned to work at Clementon Animal Hospital, which was another large 24-hour hospital in southern New Jersey, where he had worked for many years as a veterinary technician. His time there included spending three years as Chief of Staff.

In looking for a home for Animal Emergency Service of South Jersey (AESSJ), Dr. Laessig was fortunate to meet with Dr. Sleeper, who had developed Mount Laurel Animal Hospital (MLAH) into one of the region's most respected veterinary hospitals. Since that time AESSJ has become recognized for our ability to provide comprehensive and excellent patient care to animals presented to our emergency service. We serve a community of approximately 75 regional hospitals, who entrust us with the care of their patients and their owners.

While the practices were originally owned separately, they came under sole ownership of Dr. Laessig in January 2006. While the two hospitals are maintained separately from a financial and legal standpoint, they are managed as a combined entity. Dr. Laessig is grateful that he was able to retain almost all of the original staff members of MLAH, including the services of Dr. Sleeper. Similarly, many of the employees who helped him to start AESSJ have remained at the hospital for many years. Many of our staff and veterinarians have lived and been employed in this area for most of their careers. Continuing in the future, we will strive to excel at what we do; provide quality compassionate care for our patients, as if they were our own, and treat their owners as part of our extended family.