For years, veterinarian Amanda Struening dedicated herself to caring for animals while balancing the long hours and unpredictable schedules that often come with the profession. Over time, she found herself wanting a different way to practice—one that allowed her to continue doing the work she loved while being more present for her family.
“I didn’t want to choose between being a veterinarian and being home with my kids,” Amanda says. “I worked too hard for this career to walk away from it. But something had to change.”
That realization inspired Amanda and her husband, Chris, to launch Homegrown Mobile Vet, a mobile veterinary practice based in Stockton, New Jersey, serving parts of Hunterdon County.
Unlike a traditional veterinary office, the practice operates from a mobile clinic parked in clients’ driveways. The van is equipped for wellness care, vaccines, blood work, X-rays and ultrasound services, allowing many pets to receive care without the added stress of an office visit.
“A lot of people assume mobile vets are limited,” Amanda says. “But we can provide many of the services you would normally find in a general practice clinic, just in the convenience of your own driveway.”
For many animals, that convenience makes a meaningful difference. Struening says some dogs and cats become stressed before appointments even begin, whether from getting into the car, sitting in a carrier or entering an unfamiliar waiting room.
“With mobile care, pets stay in a familiar environment,” she says. “It’s calmer for them and calmer for the owner too.”
The service has been especially helpful for senior pets and cats, who often struggle most with transportation. Many clients are relieved to avoid the challenge of carriers, car rides and waiting rooms altogether.
Beyond convenience, Amanda believes the biggest difference is the personal attention families receive.
“When I’m at your home, your pet is my only focus,” she says. “There’s no waiting room and no distractions pulling my attention away.”
That one-on-one care also extends to some of the most emotional moments in pet ownership. Struening offers at-home euthanasia services, giving families the option to say goodbye in a familiar, peaceful setting.
Her own experience saying goodbye to her beloved dog, Delilah, helped shape her approach to end-of-life care.
“It was a beautiful sunny day,” Amanda recalls. “I remember thinking this is how it should be done.”
Today, she hopes to give families that same sense of peace and comfort when they are facing one of the hardest parts of loving a pet.
One of the greatest rewards has been reclaiming time with her own family. Before starting the business, Amanda often missed school pickups and daily routines because of demanding clinic schedules. Now, she and Chris are able to spend more time with their children while building a business together.
“The kids and Chris come first,” Amanda says. “I want my boys to grow up seeing that you can chase your dreams while still protecting your happiness and your family.”
As mobile veterinary care continues to grow, Amanda hopes Homegrown Mobile Vet represents more than convenience. For her, it is about creating a calmer, more personal way to care for pets and the people who love them.
To learn more about Homegrown Mobile Vet’s services and service areas in Hunterdon County, visit homegrownmobilevet.com.