Associate Veterinarian

Abbey Animal Hospital:
Where Excellent Medicine Meets Genuine Work-Life Balance

Virginia Beach, VA
Full‑Time Associate Veterinarian | 4‑Day Work Week

Abbey Animal Hospital is a privately‑owned practice in Virginia Beach that's been built on a simple but powerful belief: veterinarians practice their best medicine when they're supported, valued, and given true clinical autonomy.

We're not a corporate clinic trying to maximize production. We're not a revolving door of burned‑out veterinarians. We're a team of professionals who genuinely care about excellent patient care, about each other, and about creating a workplace where you can thrive—not just survive.

We offer a genuine 4‑day work week because we believe you need time to be a person, not just a veterinarian.

Destiny, one of our technicians, hasn't had a time‑off request rejected in four years. We don't just say we value work‑life balance—we prove it. Need fewer hours during a particularly busy season of life? We honor those requests. Weddings, family obligations, personal health—life happens, and we support you through it.

Our schedule allows you time to decompress, pursue hobbies, spend time with family, or simply rest. Because when you're rested and fulfilled outside of work, you bring your best self to your patients.

We've built a team culture based on genuine kindness and mutual support—not corporate‑mandated team building exercises.

When team members face challenges, we show up with encouragement cards and care packages. When Destiny had surgery, she received genuine support from colleagues who truly care about her wellbeing. This is how we naturally treat our work family.

The result? Low turnover, long‑term team members, and an environment where people actually enjoy coming to work. We believe this kind of culture doesn't just make work more pleasant—it makes the medicine better.

Dr. Knopp, our owner‑veterinarian, believes in providing high‑level care while respecting both client and staff time. We give you the tools, time, and clinical freedom to practice medicine the way you were trained.

You won't face pressure to:

• Rush through appointments to hit production quotas
• Upsell unnecessary services
• Cut corners on diagnostics or treatment plans
• Compromise your medical judgment for metrics

Instead, we provide:

• Time to build relationships with clients and really listen
• Support for your medical decisions and treatment recommendations
• Freedom to pursue special interests within veterinary medicine
• An environment where quality of care matters more than quantity of transactions

Dr. Knopp loves to teach and mentor—it's a genuine passion, not a line in a job posting. Dr. Vallier, who has worked at many hospitals, says Abbey is the best place she's ever practiced because of the professional freedom and genuine support for development.

We've mentored over a dozen veterinarians and veterinary students over the years. We currently support six veterinary assistants through technician school. Your growth isn't just tolerated—it’s actively encouraged and financially supported.

Whether you're a new graduate seeking strong mentorship or an experienced veterinarian wanting to expand into new areas, we invest in your continued education. Want to get better at ultrasound? Dr. Knopp will teach you. Interested in advanced orthopedic procedures? We'll help you develop those skills. Passionate about exotic medicine? We'll support you in becoming our go‑to doctor.

Our 6,000 square foot facility was completely remodeled to provide you with the tools to practice excellent medicine:

• Abdominal and cardiac ultrasound - Dr. Knopp is skilled at interpretation and loves to teach
• Endoscopy - We're a local referral center trusted by other veterinarians
• Advanced orthopedic surgeries including TPO, TGA, and extracapsular repairs (we'll teach you if you're interested)
• Surgical lasers
• Complete dental suite
• In‑house blood chemistry and diagnostics
• Exotic medicine capabilities

We have five…