Our Mission
The Avian & Exotics Center of Nashville is devoted exclusively to the care of avian and exotic companion animals and clients in need of a facility that caters to their unique needs. You and your companion animal will find our facility a clean, comfortable, and welcoming environment. We offer a soothing haven for your sick and injured pets. We are dedicated to promoting proper animal health by means of preventive medicine and client education. After-hours emergency and veterinary on-call services are also available to loyalty program members. For more information on this program, please call 615-360-0944.
Avian Angels
We are passionate about the health and wellness of all exotic pets and work in cooperation with caregivers, breeders, enthusiasts, colleges, and pet stores to further educate the public as to their special needs. You can support us in our mission by becoming an “Avian Angel”. Invest in Avian & Exotics Center of Nashville and receive Free Veterinary Care at this facility in the amount of your investment during the lifetime of your pet. That’s insurance that you can count on! If you are interested in becoming an Avian Angel, please Contact Us with your info.
Dr. Tonnie M. Ray
Doctor of Veterinary Medicine
Tonnie M. Ray, DVM, has worked in the veterinary field for over 30 years and has always had a working interest in avian and exotic species medicine. While earning her bachelor of science degree in veterinary medicine, she worked and studied at UT-Knoxville’s College of Veterinary Medicine in the avian, exotic, and wildlife program as well as their critical care and intensive care unit. She earned a second degree as a licensed veterinary medical technician at Columbia State, and her veterinary degree at UT-Knoxville’s College of Veterinary Medicine.
Dr. Ray has worked with PetCo as their primary veterinary consultant, with FloridaWild in their avian/exotic program as head of their ARC injured wildlife care & rehabilitation program, and with the Audubon Society in creating a surgical unit for avian fracture repair and rehabilitation for re-introduction back into the wild. She has devoted her life and studies to avian and exotic animal care as well as those in the wild that are injured and have no owners to care for them.
While working with the former Emergency and Exotics Center here in Nashville, Dr. Ray noted that many of the exotic patients that visited were suffering from chronic long term vitamin deficiencies and preventable environmental conditions which would have been avoided with proper care and client education as to the needs of these special pets. This awakened her desire to create a veterinary facility in Nashville specifically dedicated to the care of avian and exotic species where they could go for proper veterinary care and advice from educated professionals.
