Our Story
Mahwah Veterinarian Groom & Board is a family business founded by Dr. Rita Rivero and Joe Owens, but you’ll encounter the whole Rivero / Owens gang (kids and all!) on the premises here at 346 Forest Rd. Dr. Rita and Carmen were born and raised in Brazil by their pet activist mother Wanuza. The sisters have lived their whole lives surrounded by pets because Wanuza rescued unwanted pets, big and small. In the early 80s, Joe Owens found himself in Rio de Janeiro on the international tour of West Side Story, where it was love at first sight between him and Carmen.
The whole bunch followed Joe back to New Jersey in the late 80s, where Dr. Rita founded Demarest Veterinarian, and Joe and Carmen got married and founded Kid'z Musik (educational music classes for kids, including songs about kindness for pets and all living things).
In her experience in the pet care industry, Dr. Rita saw a need and wanted to come up with the solution. Why should pet owners have to go to three or four different places to get their pets medical care, grooming, boarding, day care, etc.? Why not go to one reliable place? Well, Dr. Rita looped in her brother-in-law, Joe, who with his many years of experience as a business owner, was up for the challenge. However, with a whole family as passionate about pets as this one, no one wanted to be left out, so you’ll meet everyone on site! Thus, Mahwah Veterinarian Groom & Board was born — your one stop shop for all your pet’s needs.