Entrepreneurship in pet care often starts with love for animals and a single small clinic. In the case of Modern Vet and Vet Alliance, it started with a near tragedy, a family that refused to give up, and a founder who saw a better way to treat pets.
This is the startup story of Mansoor AlShiha, CEO of Modern Vet and Vet Alliance, and how a three-doctor clinic in Dubai grew into a fast-growing veterinary network built around specialists, technology, and a patient-first mindset.
In this article you will learn:
- How a family dog named Duchy inspired the founding of Modern Vet
- How studying in Los Angeles opened Mansoor’s eyes to advanced veterinary care
- The steps he took to grow from a single GP clinic to a multi-brand group
- Why referral culture and specialization matter in veterinary medicine
- How Vet Alliance is building a future-focused ecosystem for pets and vets
- Practical lessons for anyone building a pet care or healthcare startup
Introducing Vet Alliance: A Modern Veterinary Network Built Around Pets
Vet Alliance is a holding company that brings together multiple brands in the veterinary and pet space. At its core, it is a network designed so pets can get everything they need, from first vaccines to advanced surgery, from home visits to final goodbyes.
It all began with Modern Vet, the original group of clinics that Mansoor took over when it was still a small primary practice. Over time, more brands joined or were created under Vet Alliance, each filling a specific role.
The Vet Alliance ecosystem
Here is an overview of the key businesses under Vet Alliance:
- Modern Vet
The main group of veterinary clinics and hospitals and the starting point of the entire journey. Modern Vet grew from a single clinic with three doctors into a network of locations across Dubai. - Blue Oasis Vet
The first merger in the group, Blue Oasis became the diagnostics hub and is known for having the first private veterinary MRI in Dubai. - Vienna Vet
A more affordable, community-driven clinic brand that makes quality vet care accessible to a wider group of pet owners. - Blue Sky Pet Relocation (Pet relocation services)
The arm that handles international pet relocation, import permits, and the complex logistics of moving animals safely across borders. - Floof (Floof online platform)
The tech glue of the group, described by Mansoor as “a Chewy meets Fresha” concept. Through Floof, clients can see medical records, place orders for food and accessories, and book appointments. - Mobile Vet
A sub-brand of Modern Vet and the first fully kitted mobile vet van in Dubai, complete with its own lab and equipment, essentially a “clinic on wheels.” - Farewell Pet Funeral Services
An upcoming service to support families through pet loss, with a more dignified and structured end-of-life experience. - Veterinary Referral Center
The newest and most ambitious project, built as a specialist-only center that will handle referral cases from clinics across the UAE. Mansoor calls it “the first of its kind” in the country.
Together, these brands form a full-circle pet care ecosystem. From first visits to advanced surgery to relocation and, eventually, goodbye services, Vet Alliance is designed to keep the patient first while giving vets the tools and teams they need.
The excitement around the new Referral Center
The Veterinary Referral Center is the piece Mansoor is most excited about. It is set to open with:
- Dedicated specialists only handling referred cases
- Departments for fields like oncology, neurology, orthopedics, and dermatology
- The first diplomate veterinary dermatologist licensed in the UAE
- Facilities built for complex surgeries and advanced diagnostics
The launch will be showcased at the Middle East and Africa Veterinary Conference, where the team will present the center to the wider veterinary community.
Mansoor AlShiha’s Journey: From Dubai Roots to LA Insights
Behind every startup story there is a person who sees something that others miss. For Mansoor, that vision came from a mix of family history, personal loss, and international exposure.
A Dubai childhood and a family clinic
Mansoor was born and raised in Dubai. Long before he became CEO, his parents had already planted the seeds of what would later become Modern Vet. You will meet Duchy, the dog that changed everything, in a moment.
Studying entrepreneurship in Los Angeles
Mansoor attended Loyola Marymount University in Los Angeles, where he joined one of the early formal entrepreneurship programs. That experience shaped how he thought about business, growth, and systems.
A simple timeline of key moments:
- University in LA
He studied entrepreneurship and saw how structured business education could support real-world ideas. - Exposure to US veterinary care
Living in LA, he owned a dog named Opie. Her accident became an eye-opener for what advanced vet medicine could look like. - Return to Dubai (around 2017–2018)
He came back and took over Modern Veterinary Clinic, as it was known then. At that point, it was a small GP clinic with about three doctors and 13–15 staff.
From day one, he struggled to accept that Dubai’s veterinary standards lagged behind what he had just seen in California.
How Opie’s Injury Exposed a Gap in Veterinary Care
Opie was an Italian Greyhound, small and fragile, but full of energy. Mansoor would take her to the boardwalk, put her in a harness, and let her sprint while he rode a longboard behind her.
He even had a name for it: “one Opie power.”
One day she hit a small hole in the grass and broke part of her foot. She hardly limped at first. The next day they took her to a clinic in LA.
A taste of advanced veterinary systems
In the US, the process was very different from what he was used to seeing in Dubai:
- They saw a GP vet, who quickly referred them to an orthopedic surgeon.
- The orthopedic department had a full team, with more than one surgeon and supporting staff.
- The estimated cost of surgery was in the tens of thousands of dollars, especially without insurance.
They decided to try a cast first, and Opie recovered after a few months. But the experience stayed with him.
Key differences Mansoor saw:
- In the US, clinics had dedicated departments, clear referral pathways, and specialists.
- Pet insurance helped drive demand for higher-end treatment.
- In Dubai at the time, most clinics were general practices with limited advanced care, no structured referral culture, and very few specialists.
When he returned to Dubai and took over Modern Vet, he kept asking the same question:
Why do pets here not have access to the same level of care?
That question became the backbone of the Modern Vet and Vet Alliance startup story.
Duchy: The Dog That Started It All
Before Opie, there was Duchy. She is the reason Modern Vet exists at all.
In the early 1990s, Duchy, the family dog, was run over after running out of the house. The family rushed her to a veterinary clinic in Dubai.
They were told there was:
- No proper orthopedic care
- No advanced medication
- No real option to save her
The advice was simple and devastating: put her to sleep.
A last-minute decision that changed a family
Mansoor’s father did something that changed the course of their lives. Right before closing time, he called the clinic and asked:
"Did you guys do it?"
They had not. He told them to wait. The family came, picked up Duchy, and decided to give her a fighting chance. With time and care, she lived another eight happy years.
For Mansoor’s mother, the thought that they almost euthanized their dog for something treatable was unbearable. That experience pushed her to open Modern Veterinary Clinic in 1995.
Key early facts about Modern Vet:
- Founded after Duchy’s near loss
- One of the pioneering vets, Dr. Renata, stayed with the clinic for almost 30 years
- The clinic went through normal business cycles, but for 15–20 years stayed a small GP practice with three doctors
The clinic existed, but it had not yet become the modern, multi-location group it is now. That transformation started when Mansoor came back from LA.
From Single Clinic to Growing Group: Building Case Load and Trust
When Mansoor took over, he saw two big gaps:
- Lack of specialists and referral culture
- A small clinic with limited case load and outdated systems
He started by trying what seemed obvious. He called specialists abroad and tried to convince them to move to Dubai.
They all asked the same three questions:
- What is the case load?
- What facility will I work in?
- What equipment do you have?
At that point, the answers were not impressive. There was almost no case load for advanced procedures, no specialized facility, and limited high-end equipment. Most specialists said no.
Some clinics were also reluctant to refer cases to him, partly because he is not a vet. They were suspicious of a non-vet moving into their space.
Solving the hardest problem first: case load
Mansoor realized that facilities and equipment were easier to buy. What he really needed was case load and trust.
So he shifted focus to growth on the ground.
His first major move was to open satellite branches.
The first one was in Jumeirah Lakes Towers (JLT):
- He bought Pampered Poochis, a grooming salon that was struggling.
- He converted it into a primary vet clinic.
- JLT was the perfect area at the time, because it was a free zone where expats could own businesses 100 percent.
This area was full of pet-loving expats, small business owners, and families. That meant more pets, more cases, and more opportunities to build a reputation.
From there, the growth steps looked like this:
- Open more primary clinics in strong communities.
- Upgrade systems like software, branding, and medical record tools.
- Focus intensely on complicated cases instead of turning them away.
- Build a patient-first culture, where the pet’s interest comes before convenience.
Over time, word spread. Pet owners talked. Referrals increased. The case load for advanced work started to appear.
Tackling Complex Cases: What Makes Modern Vet Stand Out
Many clinics handle routine cases well. Modern Vet built its name on not walking away from hard cases.
Mansoor describes their approach very simply:
If there is a way to help, and the owners are on board, they will try.
Extreme effort, real results
One of their standout stories is a V-clamp surgery case:
- They had a patient that needed a highly specialized procedure.
- The solution did not exist locally.
- The team flew to China to train and to create a custom device.
- They then flew the Chinese team to Dubai for an endoscopic surgery.
- The entire process took months of coordination, training, and planning.
Many clinics would have said, “We do not offer that.” Modern Vet elected to learn it.
Another powerful story involved a neurosurgery case from Kuwait:
- A woman drove all the way from Kuwait through Saudi Arabia to Dubai.
- She needed neurosurgery for her pet, which could not be done in her home country.
- Modern Vet had a neurosurgeon and the right setup to attempt tumor removal.
- Surgery was successful.
- For follow-up radiotherapy, Mansoor’s team even contacted human hospitals to ask if they could use their machines after hours. Legal issues made it impossible, but the effort shows how far they were ready to go.
These cases require:
- A specialized surgeon, such as a neurosurgeon
- Advanced anesthesia support, sometimes with manual ventilation
- A full team of trained nurses and techs
- Proper surgical theaters
- Expensive equipment such as endoscopes and imaging systems
Mansoor says he does not look at equipment in terms of quick return on investment. He sees it as a way to open doors to new treatments.
The result is a reputation that now draws clients from other countries who have been told elsewhere that nothing more can be done.
Changing how referrals work
In human medicine, we accept that:
- You see your family doctor first.
- They refer you to an orthopedic surgeon, cardiologist, or other specialist.
In veterinary medicine, many markets used to work differently. GP vets tried to do everything. Referral culture was weak.
In the US and Europe, this started to change with:
- Market consolidation
- Insurance growth
- The rise of large groups that could build full teams of specialists
The UAE is now going through its own version of this shift. Many long-time clinics are expat-owned and have strong legacies, which creates natural sensitivity around “losing clients.”
This is where the idea for a neutral, specialist-only referral center came in.
Surviving COVID and Scaling a People-Heavy Business
Not all challenges were medical. One of the toughest times for Modern Vet and Vet Alliance was the COVID-19 pandemic.
Dubai had very strict rules. People were not allowed to leave home without permission. At the same time, Modern Vet ran a 24-hour hospital, which counted as a critical sector.
At first, everyone expected business to collapse. Mansoor even had a draft letter ready to cut staff salaries by 40 percent to survive.
What happened instead was the opposite.
When the world locked down, pet care surged
During COVID:
- Many people adopted pets for companionship.
- Owners who were home all day started to notice health issues in their pets.
- Vet visits were one of the few allowed reasons to leave the house.
Business increased by about 40 percent. Salaries were not cut. The team held together.
The challenge of scale
As they grew from one clinic to many, another set of challenges appeared:
- Different branches needed shared medical records.
- X-rays and imaging had to be stored in formats like DICOM to work across locations.
- Policies that used to be “in the owner’s head” now had to be written down and standardized.
- They had to define when to refer, where to refer, and how.
Because Mansoor is not a vet, nothing was obvious to him. He had to question everything and then document it.
That turned into a strength. Clear systems can be shared across 10 or more branches. Today, the group has 10 locations, soon to be 11, and more than 300 staff with over 70 doctors.
Managing that many people is one of the hardest parts of his role. In his words, it is a people-based business, and with that many interactions, there is always some friction. Shared passion for animals and clear culture help hold it together.
Vet Alliance: An Operator-Led Veterinary Ecosystem
As Modern Vet grew and began merging with or adding other brands like Blue Oasis and Vienna Vet, it was clear they needed a structure that was bigger than any one clinic.
That structure became Vet Alliance.
What makes Vet Alliance different from typical PE-backed groups
Many clinic groups are built and run by investors or private equity. Mansoor highlights a few differences in how Vet Alliance works:
- Operator-led
The same team that built Modern Vet runs Vet Alliance. There is no distant middleman. - Proven at scale
They already operate multiple clinics successfully, so new clinics can see a track record. - Vets can stay vets
Mansoor is clear about this. He does not try to be a vet, and he does not expect vets to become large-scale business operators. - Flexible ways to join
Clinic owners can protect their legacy, avoid full rebranding, and choose structures that fit their goals.
This is very attractive to vets who became doctors out of passion for animals, not because they wanted to spend their lives in boardrooms and spreadsheets.
Vet Alliance’s culture is similar in spirit to what you see in other pet care startup stories, such as the Relief veterinarian's $386K pet care startup journey, where professionals redesign their careers around flexibility and impact.
The Veterinary Referral Center: Specialist-Only Pet Care
The Veterinary Referral Center is the culmination of almost nine years of work. It is built around one simple rule:
It only handles referred cases, not general practice.
That means:
- No vaccines
- No “first opinion” consultations
- No competition over the bread-and-butter work of regular clinics
Instead, the center exists to support other vets and their patients.
What the Referral Center offers
Some of the key features and benefits:
- Specialists only, including:
- Oncology
- Dermatology (with the first licensed diplomate dermatologist in the country)
- Neurology
- Orthopedics
- Other advanced disciplines as the team grows
- A facility built to handle complex surgeries and critical cases
- The ability to train future specialists, with the long-term goal of offering residency programs
This setup helps break down the natural fear clinics have about referring cases to “competitors.” Since the center does not provide GP services, it exists as a support hub, not a threat.
Looking Ahead: 30 Locations and a Stronger Referral Culture
For now, Mansoor’s main focus is getting the Veterinary Referral Center up and running at full potential, with complete departments and a stable specialist team.
After that, he sees Vet Alliance:
- Expanding into other Emirates
- Moving into other countries
- Reaching around 30 locations within two years, all feeding into the Referral Center
The goal is in the name: an alliance. An alliance between clinics, specialists, tech, and owners, all centered on better patient care.
The animals behind the mission
Two dogs shaped this entire startup story:
- Duchy, who inspired the founding of Modern Veterinary Clinic after almost being euthanized for a treatable condition.
- Opie, whose injury in Los Angeles opened Mansoor’s eyes to what specialist-led care and structured referrals could look like.
The hardest and most rewarding parts
For Mansoor:
- The hardest part is the people side. Managing hundreds of staff and dozens of doctors, each with their own style and needs, is always complex.
- The most rewarding part is when a very difficult case, one that might have been written off as hopeless elsewhere, recovers. Especially when owners were told to put their pets to sleep and instead walk out with a pet that still has a good life ahead.
He points out that medicine changes all the time. Problems that looked impossible ten years ago now have options. The key is not to confuse “no solution exists” with “this clinic cannot solve it.”
Key Takeaways For Founders And Pet Professionals
You can draw a lot from this journey, whether you are a vet, a clinic owner, or a founder in another health field.
1. A strong startup story often starts with a personal pain point
Duchy’s case and the shock of almost losing her for no good medical reason became the emotional fuel behind Modern Vet.
2. See what “good” looks like in other markets
Mansoor’s exposure to US systems through Opie’s treatment gave him a clear picture of what was missing in Dubai.
3. Solve the hardest constraint first
He focused on building case load and trust before obsessing over shiny buildings and machines. Without patients, advanced equipment is just expensive decoration.
4. Document what others treat as “common sense”
Since he is not a vet, he had to ask “why” about everything. That turned into policies and playbooks that could scale across branches.
5. Build structures that let specialists do what they do best
The Referral Center model respects both GP vets and specialists by drawing a sharp line between their scopes.
6. Put patient outcomes above short-term profit
Flying teams to China, reaching out to human hospitals, and buying rare equipment is not the cheapest path. It is, however, how you build long-term trust and a brand people talk about.
Actionable Advice For Readers
Here are some practical steps you can borrow from Mansoor’s journey:
- If you run a clinic, start tracking which cases you cannot handle and where you send them. That list may point you toward the first specialist you need to hire or partner with.
- If you are a vet with big ambitions, think in terms of departments, not only single clinics. What would your ideal orthopedic, neurology, or rehab unit look like?
- If you are a non-clinician founder in healthcare, embrace your outsider status. Ask basic questions, write down the answers, and turn them into systems.
- If you are a pet owner, do not accept “there is nothing to do” as the final word without exploring a second opinion or a referral, especially in complex cases.
Closing Thoughts
Modern Vet and Vet Alliance did not appear overnight. They grew from a small family clinic, a heartbreaking close call, and one founder’s refusal to accept limited standards of care.
This startup story blends heart and strategy. Family love for a dog led to a single clinic. Education and exposure to higher standards turned that clinic into a network. Persistent focus on complex cases, systems, and specialists gave birth to Vet Alliance and its new Veterinary Referral Center.
If you care about pets, entrepreneurship, or healthcare innovation, there is a simple lesson here:
Start with the patient. Build around their needs. Then keep going until your systems match the level of care they deserve.
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