Liz's Animal Hospital is a veterinary clinic featured in the Garfield comic strip franchise as one of its most recurring locations, having first appeared on the September 17, 1978 comic strip in newspapers nationwide and since then appearing in practically every spin-off and adaptation of the iconic comic strip.
Liz's Animal Hospital is a full-service veterinary clinic, providing everything from routine check-ups and vaccinations to advanced medical treatments. The clinic cares for a wide range of animal patients of all ages, including cats, dogs, rabbits, hamsters, gerbils, pigs, fish, parrots, and more.
At the heart of the practice is Dr. Liz Wilson, a trusted veterinarian equipped with state-of-the-art medical tools and treatments to meet the demands of a pet-loving suburb. Whether handling routine care or tending to animals with unusually large appetites, Dr. Wilson ensures that every patient receives the best possible treatment.
An example of the clinic's typical sort of clientele
The clinic has a diverse clientele, but its most frequent customer is local cartoonist, Jon Arbuckle, owner of the clinic's most iconic patients, Garfield and Odie, and later being known as the steady boyfriend of Dr. Liz herself after a long and awkward history together.
Staff[]
Veterinarian[]
“Dr. Liz: Garfield, you need to be more active. A fit cat is a happy cat.” “Garfield: And a quiet vet is a likeable vet.”
―A typical exchange between Dr. Liz and her most frequent patient, Garfield
The Animal Hospital's vet, Dr. Liz Wilson with her frequent patient, Garfield, and boyfriend, Jon
Dr. Elizabeth Wilson (aka Liz) is the owner and head vet of her animal clinic, having dedicated her life to helping animals, but while also having to put up with the constantly annoying antics of her boyfriend, Jon Arbuckle and his lazy ravenous pet cat, Garfield.
Dr. Liz and Jon's early rocky "relationship"
Dr. Liz has a long and humorously awkward history with her most frequent customer, the goofball cartoonist, Jon Arbuckle. Her relationship with Jon stands out among the clients of Liz's clinic for his single-minded attraction towards Dr. Liz herself, with Jon having been known to frequently ask Liz out on dates numerous times over the years, but rarely succeeding, with Liz often rejecting Jon with her usual dry humor or simply going on dates with him out of pity. However, Jon's years of persistence would eventually pay off, and Dr. Liz would grow to genuinely reciprocate the goofball cartoonist's affections, with the two gradually becoming a proper couple.
A happier Liz and Jon
Dr. Liz's current career path was the result of a strong bond she had as child with her pet cat, Tiger, a small tabby cat who she used to do everything with and loved dearly, and it was Tiger's passing which motivated her to pursue a career as a vet and help any animal she could. This also leads to her sometimes contrasting but understanding relationship with Jon's cat, Garfield. While Garfield is annoying, lazy and prone to mischief, she has a soft spot for him, and has even affectionately compared Garfield to being more like a child to Jon than a pet.
Receptionists[]
The unnamed first receptionist at Liz's clinic
Della, the sardonic long-time second receptionist at Liz's clinic
Gallery[]
The first appearance of Liz's Animal Hospital as the "Veterinary Clinic" (September 17, 1978)
Liz's first appearance as the clinic's vet (June 26, 1979)
Another typical day at the clinic (July 3, 2006)
The last appearance of Liz's Animal Hospital (November 10, 2009) before a decade-long hiatus which ended on March 8, 2020
Liz's Animal Hospital in Garfield and Friends (1988)
Liz's Animal Hospital in Garfield: The Movie (2004)
Liz's Animal Hospital in The Garfield Show (2009)
Liz's Animal Hospital in Garfield's Pet Hospital (2013)
Liz's Animal Hospital in Garfield Originals (2019)
Liz's Animal Hospital in The Garfield Movie (2024)
Trivia[]
While the clinic first appeared on September 17, 1978, Liz herself predates it by having originally appeared in 1976 as part of Jim Davis' prototype comic strip, Jon.
Following the clinic's debut in the Garfield strips, Liz herself would not appear as its vet until a year later on June 26, 1979.
Prior to Liz's debut as a vet, an unnamed male vet briefly managed the clinic who was mentioned on October 20, 1978 and seen on October 29, 1978 before being replaced by Liz completely. This unnamed male vet was originally going to have Garfield declawed, but the surgery went wrong when Garfield attacked him, leading the vet to undergo surgery.
Despite the clinic's prominence during the comic strip's run, Liz's Animal Hospital ceased appearing for 11 years starting in 2009 after Liz and Jon officially became a couple. However, it would still be directly and indirectly mentioned from time to time by Liz, Jon or Garfield due to her continued career as a vet, eventually making a return appearance in 2020.
