Pet care a family affair at new Oakley veterinary clinic
The brother-sister team say theirs is the only sibling-operated veterinary clinic they know of in East Contra Costa County.
“There are a few father-son or father-daughter clinics in Contra Costa County, but we are the only sibling-run clinic (in East County),” Alexa Ojala said.
Born in Hayward and raised in Brentwood, the pair returned to East County to open the practice at 98 Big Break Road in Oakley, offering care for a wide range of animals in a welcoming, noncorporate setting. They say the clinic reflects not only their shared upbringing but also a deep family bond that continues to shape their personal and professional lives.
Dr. Ojala recently bought land in Brentwood, where multiple family members plan to build homes, the siblings say, and that closeness helped inspire their decision to open a family-run veterinary practice.
“We are very close as a family and have a huge passion for animals,” Alexa Ojala said. “It felt like this was always our path to advocate for pets and support pet parents. We wanted to create a safe environment for pets and their pet parents.”
From the moment clients walk through the door, Ojala Family Pet Care’s owners say their goal is to create an environment far from a traditional hospital.
“We wanted our clinic to feel like a home instead of a sterile, cold corporate clinic,” Alexa Ojala said. “When you walk in, you will be greeted by our mom (Tuli Ojala) and me. We will get you seated in either one of our cozy examination rooms or on our patio that is overlooking the (Sacramento-San Joaquin River) Delta. Our dad, Clint Ojala, is here pretty frequently helping out too.”
They say that personal approach also extends to how pet care decisions are made.
“The doctor will walk you through your options, rather than telling you exactly what to do, never forcing anything,” she said.
Alexa Ojala and her mother, Tuli Ojala, manage the clinic’s daily operations, while Dr. Ojala focuses on patient care and client communication.
“We take care of the day-to-day, purchasing medications, equipment, booking appointments, setting up the schedule, dealing with payroll and taxes, etc., and Dr. Austin (Ojala) works with the clients to figure out what’s going on with their pets and fix their issues.”
The siblings say working together is nothing new for them.
“We have always worked side-by-side,” Alexa Ojala said. “When we were kids, he was on the football team, and I was a cheerleader. When we were in school, we helped each other out when it came to studying or overcoming hard topics. All that has changed is the setting.”
The Ojala clinic treats a wide variety of animals, including household pets and livestock.
“We treat dogs, cats, reptiles, pocket pets, fish and most farm animals,” Dr. Ojala said. “We refer all birds to the Oakley Medical Center for Birds, which is down the street from us. We also don’t treat horses at the moment and refer out to a few mobile equine clinics in the area.”
Dr. Ojala says his work is guided by a commitment to animals and the broader community.
“Our passion is for animals and the community’s well-being,” he said. “We succeed when the pets in the community succeed.”
The Ojalas say that philosophy extends beyond the clinic walls. The practice partners with multiple rescue organizations, including No Paws Left Behind, Ruff Day Rescue, Delta View Cats and Pawsitively Safe Cat Rescue — providing low-cost spay, neuter and other vet services for those rescue groups.
The clinic is also a member of the Oakley Chamber of Commerce, and Dr. Ojala said its balance of modern medicine and empathy is what sets them apart from other clinics.
“We try our best to give our clients the best recommendations without forcing anything on them,” he said. “We understand our world is not perfect and there are a lot of considerations to take into account — for example, clients’ personal beliefs, finances, etc. We do our best to provide a safe space for everyone involved while at the same time providing top-notch care.”
He says trust and communication are central to their approach.
“Trust is incredibly important to build with both the patient and the client,” Dr. Ojala said. “I need the patient to trust that I am only here to help them and pose no risk and for the client to understand that I am here to make sure the patient becomes and stays healthy and that I am not here to nickel-and-dime them.”
He gives preventive advice to pet parents.
“Avoid bones and antler chew toys,” he said. “If you can’t sink your fingernail into it or if you’re not willing to hit yourself in the knee with it, it’s too dense to give to your dog. This is a major cause of teeth fractures (that) we see on a daily basis.”
He said to also avoid giving pets fatty foods. “This is a major cause of pancreatitis/GI (gastrointestinal) instability,” he said.
He says finally, before “Dr. Google” prescribes anything, check in with a real vet.
“Home remedies often cause more damage than the initial issue,” he said. “For example, using apple cider vinegar to clean out dogs’ ears can cause damage to the ear drums.”
Visit Ojala Family Pet Care online at ojalafamilypetcare.com.
Reach Charleen Earley, a freelance writer and journalism professor at Diablo Valley college, at [email protected] or 925-383-3072.
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