Best Kept Secrets of Miami Beach
Ocean Drive Magazine
April 1995

The owner of the Miami Beach Animal Hospital has had an ongoing love affair with animals all his life.  "I've always wanted to be a vet," Dr. Robert Ferran says with pride.

Lured by Miami Beach's leisurely lifestyle, Dr. Ferran, who was born and raised in Brooklyn, migrated south and bought the Miami Beach Animal Hospital.  Originally opened in 1935, the hospital is certified by the AAHA (American Animal Hospital Association), which means it adheres to stricter requirements that non-certified institutions.  That sort of extra care is what Dr. Ferran is best known for.  He and his staff of four spend most of their time caring for their charges, but even on his own time, he stops in to check on his patients and always remains just a phone call away.

 The full-service hospital offers a boarding, bathing, x-rays, hospitalization, dentistry and outdoor runs for their boarders.  Dogs that are boarder with Dr. Ferran spend their nights indoors but get plenty of play time outdoors during the day.  Winter is extra-busy at the hospital, as large numbers of pet owners board their pets while they take holiday vacations.
 The Miami Beach Animal Hospital treats everything from cats with leukemia to dogs hit by cars.  It may sound odd, but many pets contract human diseases like leukemia, AIDS, and kidney problems.  Although cats and dogs comprise most of the MBAH's clientele, Ferran has seen a goat and several snakes pass through the door.  If the animal is too rare, he refers it to a fellow vet in Kendall who specializes in exotic species.

Even with a hidden location (where is Purdy Avenue?), Robert still has a thriving business, probably because he gets most of his clients through word-of-mouth.