Dr. A. Olly Neal, an alumnus of Alcorn State University, is making waves in the veterinary world as his practice, “Your Friends at Dacula Animal Hospital,” has been ranked among the top 100 veterinary hospitals in the U.S. by USA TODAY for National Pet Week 2025. The Dacula, Ga.-based clinic secured the 78th spot out of 300 hospitals nationwide, boasting a score of 92.06.
Neal’s journey into veterinary medicine began early in life, rooted in his experiences on his grandparents’ farm in West Tennessee. “I’ve always wanted to be a veterinarian. I’ve never wanted to be anything else,” he said. He recalled how he “just fell in love with the animals” there.
A proud graduate of Alcorn State University, Neal earned a bachelor of science in animal sciences between 1995 and 2000. He specifically sought out a historically Black college or university with an animal science program that would prepare him for veterinary school. He also emphasized his desire to be in an HBCU marching band. Neal described the atmosphere at Alcorn as “like family,” noting the welcoming and personable nature of everyone he encountered. He received a full scholarship to participate in the band and credits the friendly environment and the support of his professors, including Dr. Kenneth Stalling and Dr. Cassandra Vaughn, with his success. Neal said Stalling, in particular, instilled in him the mantra, “The race is not given to the swift or the strong, but he who endures to the end,” a philosophy that continues to guide him.
After graduating from Alcorn, Neal pursued his doctor of veterinary medicine degree at Tuskegee University’s School of Veterinary Medicine, graduating in 2004. Tuskegee was a natural progression; Neal said Stalling and Vaughn organized trips to the university, and a Tuskegee recruiter actively checked on his application and grades. While academically challenging, the experience further honed his ability to balance time and collaborate with peers. He said he didn’t get into Tuskegee on his first attempt but was accepted the following year after perseverance and participating in a summer program.
Following veterinary school, Neal gained extensive experience in Las Vegas, Nevada, practicing small animal care, emergency medicine, and shelter medicine for seven to eight years. He described this period as a “culture shock” but credited his background at Alcorn and Tuskegee with helping him “dig in and figure it out.” Neal adopted a dedicated work ethic, aiming to be the first to arrive and the last to leave, and prioritizing listening to learn.
Eventually, Neal relocated to Georgia, working in various veterinary settings across the Atlanta metro area. On Nov. 8, 2022, he fulfilled his lifelong dream of becoming a practice owner, reopening an existing animal hospital.
His practice, Your Friends at Dacula Animal Hospital, operates under a “C.A.R.E.S.” model, guided by five core principles: compassion, accountability, responsibility, empathy, and solutions. These principles, along with the hospital’s motto, “People don’t care how much you know, they want to know how much you care,” inform every decision, from assisting clients facing financial hardship to managing challenging interactions, ensuring a “down-home environment.” Neal attributes much of this care model to his formative experiences at Alcorn and Tuskegee, where he learned how to interact effectively with people.
The recent USA TODAY ranking was a pleasant surprise for Neal. “I was shocked, and honestly, the first time I heard it… I didn’t even believe it,” he said. Neal expressed immense gratitude, adding that despite the hospital’s older physical building, “if the heart of it is there, if you treat people like friends, going back to Alcorn, going back to Tuskegee, all that stuff doesn’t matter. It really comes down to how you treat people.” He said the recognition “reaffirms that I’m in the right spot of where I need to be,” helping him counter any “impostor syndrome” he may have felt among peers from other high-ranking veterinary schools.
Neal continues to be actively involved in the day-to-day operations of the hospital, seeing patients six days a week. He plans to continue until retirement, which he says won’t be anytime soon — his daughter is starting at Alcorn State University this fall. Neal hopes to expand with a second location and eventually bring on more doctors, including future graduates of Alcorn and Tuskegee. He hopes these principles and this motto will lead to more success and allow him to give more to Alcorn and help other future students and veterinarians.
USA TODAY partnered with market research firm Statista to create the annual America’s Best Veterinary Hospitals rankings. The rankings are based on assessments from an independent survey of more than 5,000 U.S. veterinary professionals and pet owners who had visited or received services from a veterinary hospital in the past three years. More than 11,000 evaluations were collected between January and March 2025. For the list, a veterinary hospital was defined as a facility operated by a licensed veterinarian for diagnosing and treating diseases and injuries in large animals and pets, offering services like surgery and emergency care. The criteria included professional and pet owner assessments and, when appropriate, accreditation.
Neal emphasized that this achievement is not his alone. “This is all of my staff, all of the clients, all of my family and friends who supported me,” he said. “Shout-out to everybody who helped me and helped mold me.”
