A Short History

From an early age, Dr. Deirdre Brandes knew she wanted to become a veterinarian. She volunteered at a number of veterinary hospitals in San Diego, as well as the Helen Woodward Animal Center.

After she graduated from Cornell's College of Veterinary Medicine she choose to return to her hometown of San Diego and begin practicing immediately. Early on she focused on dogs and cats, but was soon challenged with a variety of exotics coming from bird, reptile, and rabbit owners, as well as Project Wildlife. Over time she grew adept and came to enjoy treating these many different animals.

Eventually, she had a dream of starting a new veterinary hospital. It would be a hospital comprised of some of the best veterinarians she had the opportunity to meet, as well as the best support staff she could find. The hospital would provide high-quality care and service for all small animals, pets and wildlife alike. And, it would always be there to serve the community.

The dream is now a reality. We're proud to have served thousands of patients and clients at Rancho Santa Fe Veterinary Hospital.

Our Philosophy

One likely reason why Dr. Brandes' hospital plan appealed to the Helen Woodward Animal Center is because of her conspicuous devotion to pets and all animals, and the strong bond that forms between pets and their owners. That is why at Rancho Santa Fe Veterinary Hospital we promise to provide the best care possible for your pet.

    In concrete terms that means we will:


  • Treat & offer the same level of medicine to your pet as if it were our own
  • Educate owners to ensure their pets lead happy and healthy lives
  • Focus on providing excellent health care
  • Provide funding for the continuous education and improvement of our staff
  • Donate our services to help less fortunate animals
  • Provide aid to help less fortunate animals and to aid local animal shelters, such as Project Wildlife, the Humane Society, and the Helen Woodward Animal Center.