Petland retail franchise hires consulting veterinarian

Petland, which offers retail pet franchises across the U.S., Canada, China, Mexico, South Africa, Brazil, and El Salvador, has hired Thomas Edling, DVM, MSpVM, MPH, as the Chillicothe, Ohio-based company’s consulting veterinarian.

“Petland cares about the health of our pets before they arrive at our stores, while they are in our care and after they go home,” said Joe Watson, Petland pesident and CEO. “We are excited to have the leadership of Dr. Edling in assisting Petland to exceed the needs of our pets and our customers.”

Edling, who received his degree in veterinary medicine from Colorado State University, previously served as vice president of veterinary medicine for Petco and was on the faculty of the University of Wisconsin Veterinary Medical Teaching Hospital. In addition, he completed the American Board of Veterinary Practitioner’s residency program for companion and wild avian medicine and surgery at North Carolina State University, where he also received his master’s degree in specialized veterinary medicine in 2001. In 2011, he completed the master of public health program at Johns Hopkins University.

Edling will work closely with the Pet Industry Joint Advisory Council, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, and the National Association of State Public Health Veterinarians to continue his “life’s passion of improving the health and welfare of animals in the pet industry and building upon Petland’s 51 years of raising standards of care,” he said.