About Us

Our Story

Family-Owned So We Can Treat Your Family

Lincoln Ave Cat & Dog Hospital has been a independent regional leader in veterinary medicine for over 40 years. Founded in 1984 as Lincoln Avenue Cat Hospital, we quickly earned a reputation as the leading feline-focused animal hospital in the tri-state area, offering advanced feline care in a calm, dog-free setting that reduces anxiety for our feline patients.

In 2001, Dr. El-Akbawy expanded our services and our furry community throughout the state. Then, in 2023, we proudly opened our doors wider to canine companions, officially rebranding to Lincoln Ave Cat & Dog Hospital to become a complete animal hospital serving both cats and dogs — and many exotic pets too. Our modern, family-owned, state-of-the-art facility, combines the latest diagnostic and surgical technology with the personal touch that has kept generations of Fairlawn and Bergen County families coming back.

Our mission remains the same: to treat every pet like family while delivering the highest quality medical, surgical, and preventive care in a stress-free environment.

Our Mission

"We provide the highest quality, comprehensive, and compassionate medical care to pets, while supporting our clients with sensitivity and understanding; we serve as a multifaceted resource for the veterinary profession and the furry community beyond just services."

This mission has guided us since 1984 and continues to drive everything we do at Lincoln Ave Cat & Dog Hospital in Fairlawn, NJ. We live our mission every day through small, intentional actions that add up to big impact:

• We offer all advanced services in one hospital — from wellness exams and vaccinations to complex orthopedic surgeries (like TPLO), soft tissue procedures, advanced dentistry, in-house diagnostics, and emergency care during business hours — so pet families in Bergen County don't have to travel elsewhere for specialized treatment.
• Our team prioritizes kindness and transparency in every interaction: clear communication about diagnoses, treatment options, and costs; no hidden fees; and always obtaining written consent before proceeding.
• We actively support the community with community discounts, affordable wellness programs (to help families save time and money on preventive care), acceptance of all major pet insurance plans, and flexible financing options through Cherry, CareCredit, and Scratchpay.
• We go beyond medicine by fostering a positive, inclusive environment — hosting community events, providing educational resources, and ensuring every pet and client feels seen, respected, and cared for.
• Internally, our staff works as a true team: daily huddles promote collaboration, mutual respect, and shared accountability so the kindness and professionalism we cultivate flow directly to our clients and their pets.

By focusing on high-quality, tailored treatments, competitive yet transparent pricing, and genuine community support, we show that we are here to save animals and give back to North Jersey families.

Our Core Values

Three core values guide every decision we make at Lincoln Ave Cat & Dog Hospital:

1. Transparency & Honesty — We communicate openly about diagnoses, treatment plans, costs, and outcomes. No surprises, no upselling — just clear, truthful information so families can make confident choices.
2. High-Quality Care — We invest in advanced technology, ongoing training, and comprehensive services so every pet receives the best possible medical attention in one trusted location.
3. Kindness — Toward pets, clients, and each other. We treat every interaction with empathy, patience, and genuine care, because we know pets are family.

These values shape our daily operations, from how we greet clients to how we mentor new team members.

Our Culture & Team

Our culture at Lincoln Ave Cat & Dog Hospital is inclusive, diverse, kind, involved, professional, and positive. We believe a strong internal team is the foundation of exceptional patient care. Our staff works like a true family — we respect and genuinely care for one another, celebrate each other's successes, support growth, and maintain a positive atmosphere even on busy days. This culture of mutual respect and kindness naturally pours over into how we treat every client and pet who walks through our doors. We celebrate diversity in backgrounds, experiences, and perspectives, and we're actively involved in our Fairlawn and Bergen County community beyond the exam room.

A Culture of Mentorship

One of our favorite stories is about Dr. Hesham El-Akbawy's commitment to mentoring passionate individuals who just need a foot in the door. Dr. El-Akbawy loves taking a leap of faith on students and aspiring professionals who show genuine love for animals but may lack formal experience. He personally hires, trains, and invests in them, giving hands-on opportunities to grow.

One shining example is Michelle Ortiz, one of his former students who started with us and is now our lead veterinary technician. Michelle began with enthusiasm and a big heart — Dr. El-Akbawy saw her potential and gave her the guidance and real-world experience to thrive. Today, she's not only an exceptional technician leading our team but is continuing her education at a top university to advance her skills even further.

Stories like Michelle's reflect our culture: we believe in people, invest in growth, and celebrate long-term journeys. Our support staff, receptionists, and techs all share this spirit — many have grown with us over years, creating a loyal, skilled, and caring team that pours kindness into every client interaction.

Going even further, Dr. El-Akbawy has founded the Foreign Vet Institute, a dedicated program that helps veterinarians from different countries who come to America pass required licensing exams — including the Educational Commission for Foreign Veterinary Graduates (ECFVG), Program for the Assessment of Veterinary Education Equivalence (PAVE), and the North American Veterinary Licensing Examination (NAVLE). It's a powerful example of how our lead veterinarian goes above and beyond for the veterinary community — supporting aspiring students, dedicated providers, and professional veterinarians from across the world who need guidance and a chance to succeed.

What Sets Us Apart

What truly sets Lincoln Ave Cat & Dog Hospital apart is our unwavering commitment to being a true all-under-one-roof veterinary hospital while going far beyond standard care to serve pets, families, and the community in meaningful ways.

Comprehensive All-in-One Care

We're one of the few practices in Bergen County offering advanced orthopedic surgeries (including TPLO for ACL tears), soft tissue procedures, urgent surgeries, advanced dentistry, in-house diagnostics, medical boarding, and even cat boarding — one of the very few hospitals in the area that provides dedicated, stress-reduced cat boarding in a separate, quiet environment. No referrals needed — everything happens right here.

State-of-the-Art Facilities & Strict Protocols

Our modern hospital features cutting-edge equipment and follows rigorous, advanced protocols designed to minimize complications, ensure safety, and deliver the highest quality outcomes. From pre-surgical preparation to structured post-procedural care plans — including detailed discharge instructions, pain management follow-up, and rehab guidance — we provide structure and peace of mind at every step.

Expertise You Can Trust

Led by Dr. Hesham El-Akbawy, a highly experienced orthopedic and soft tissue veterinarian with decades of expertise, our team handles everything from routine wellness to complex cases. Dr. El-Akbawy doesn't just work at Lincoln Ave — he also takes emergency shifts at neighboring urgent care facilities, bringing that high-level emergency knowledge back to benefit our patients.

Independent, Not Corporate

We're proud to be an independent, family-feel veterinary hospital — not part of a big corporate chain — and that independence allows us to prioritize personalized care, community involvement, and flexibility in ways large chains often can't. Unlike corporate chains with standardized protocols and high turnover, our team knows our clients and their pets by name. We build long-term relationships, remember your pet's history, and tailor every plan to your family's needs — not a corporate checklist.

We're also one of the few independent (non-corporate) veterinary hospitals in the area that offers after-hours on-call doctor communication. If an emergency arises that can be safely managed until morning, our team is available to guide you — giving you peace of mind without having to drive to a distant ER in the middle of the night.

At Lincoln Ave Cat & Dog Hospital, independence means we can focus on what matters most: your pet's health, your family's peace of mind, and giving back to Fairlawn and Bergen County — not quarterly profits or corporate metrics.

Advanced Services & Technology

At Lincoln Ave Cat & Dog Hospital, we invest heavily in state-of-the-art equipment and advanced technology so we can deliver faster, more accurate diagnoses and treatments right here in Fairlawn, NJ — often without the need for referrals or long waits at specialty centers.

• Comprehensive In-House Diagnostics — We offer advanced imaging and testing on-site, including digital X-rays, ultrasound, and echocardiograms (heart ultrasounds). This means quicker results — often within minutes — allowing our veterinarians to start treatment the same day without sending samples or images out to external labs.
• Upcoming Access to CT & MRI Scans — Through our close partnership with our sister hospital, Animal Hospital of Fairfield, we will soon provide seamless access to CT scans and MRI imaging for complex cases (e.g., neurological issues, advanced orthopedics, or internal tumors). This collaboration gives our patients the benefits of hospital-level imaging while keeping care coordinated and convenient under one trusted team.
• High-End Surgical Expertise & Trusted Tools — Led by Dr. Hesham El-Akbawy, a specialist in orthopedic, soft tissue, and urgent surgeries with decades of experience, we use premium surgical instrumentation and techniques designed for high success rates and smooth recoveries. Our strict pre-surgical protocols — including thorough pre-anesthetic bloodwork, individualized anesthesia plans, and multimodal pain management — combined with advanced monitoring minimize complications. Post-operatively, we provide structured recovery plans with detailed at-home instructions, follow-up checks, and rehabilitation guidance to help pets return to normal life quickly and comfortably.
• Dedicated Medical Boarding Ward & Cat Boarding — We maintain a separate, quiet cat boarding area (one of the very few in the region) and a full medical boarding ward for pets recovering from surgery or needing close monitoring — all with climate control, 24/7 observation when required, and daily vet oversight.

These advanced capabilities allow us to handle a wide range of cases — from routine wellness to complex orthopedic repairs, soft tissue surgeries, and urgent interventions — all under one roof in the heart of Bergen County. We combine cutting-edge technology with compassionate, personalized care so your pet gets the best possible outcome without the stress of multiple locations or long referral waits. Clients in Fairlawn, Glen Rock, Ridgewood, Paterson, and surrounding North Jersey communities can trust us for high-level diagnostics, surgery, and recovery support close to home.

Community & Giving Back

Giving back to the community is part of who we are at Lincoln Ave Cat & Dog Hospital. We run ongoing wellness programs for cats, dogs, and exotic pets of all ages — packages that bundle preventive care, vaccinations, dental cleanings, and routine diagnostics into one affordable plan so families can save both time and money while knowing their pet is protected, with no surprise bills.

We also offer generous community discounts for police officers, first responders, senior citizens, students, military families, and more. These discounts are our way of saying thank you to the people who serve our community and to help make high-quality veterinary care accessible to every pet family in Bergen County.

We regularly participate in local pet events, health fairs, and school visits throughout Fairlawn and surrounding towns, and we're always happy to host educational workshops on topics like puppy and kitten care, senior pet health, and at-home dental care.

Beyond our own community programs, we proudly support local shelters that align with our mission of compassion and care. We partner with Bergen County animal rescues, colleges, adoption groups, dog walking providers, and other support networks. We donate services and products to help animals in need and regularly sponsor community fundraisers. Our founder, Dr. Hesham El-Akbawy, extends this spirit through the Foreign Vet Institute, helping international veterinarians build successful careers in the U.S. — another way we give back to the broader veterinary family.

Visit Us

Our location is one of the biggest conveniences for pet families across North Jersey. We're right in the heart of Bergen County at 133 Lincoln Ave, Fairlawn, NJ 07410, making us easily accessible for families from Fairlawn, Hawthorne, Glen Rock, Ridgewood, Paterson, Saddle Brook, Elmwood Park, Garfield, Lodi, Rochelle Park, Paramus, and over a dozen other nearby towns.

You'll love our easy access and free parking — we have both a dedicated parking lot and plenty of street parking right in front of the hospital, so you never have to circle the block or worry about parking tickets when you're rushing in with your pet.

Fairlawn itself is a friendly, family-oriented borough with a rich history dating back to Dutch settlers and the Lenape people — and we're honored to be part of this close-knit community for over 40 years.