Northern Liberties
Learn more about Love City Vet in Northern Liberties, from our location and hours to the compassionate, experienced veterinary team ready to care for your pets.
Northern Liberties
In the shopping center nestled between the Northern Liberties and Old City neighborhoods.
456 N 5th St. Philadelphia, PA 19123
FREE on-site parking
Meet Our Team
Dr. Killian Lenahen
Founder/Owner
Rachel
Practice Manager
More to Come!
The History Behind Love City Vet
Love City Vet was founded by Dr. Killian Lenahen, VMD, to provide modern, local, and independent veterinary care in Philadelphia. Dr. Lenahen’s vision was to create a clinic where pets of all ages and people of all backgrounds feel welcome, and where the veterinary team can grow personally and professionally while feeling valued.
The clinic’s logo honors Dr. Lenahen’s senior pets, Monroe and Josephine, who were often seen together in their wagon as they traveled around Philadelphia, delighting passersby eager to meet the beloved pair. This spirit of community and care continues at Love City Vet, where every visit is designed to enhance the lives of pets, their owners, and the local community.
From the very beginning, Love City Vet has been dedicated to building lasting connections—between pets and their families, among veterinary team members, and within the neighborhoods it serves. By combining compassionate care, attention to detail, and a welcoming environment, the clinic ensures that every pet and owner experiences exceptional veterinary care with warmth and trust.
Dr. Killian Lenahen
Founder/Owner
She/Her
Hometown
Fort Washington, PA
Favorite activities in Philadelphia
Exploring new restaurants – especially in East Passyunk. Going to Eagles games, neighborhood block parties, and street festivals. Checking out and supporting other small businesses.
TV Show you’d be on
This is an easy one- Survivor. My first screen name was survivorgirl409 after I watched the 1st season of Survivor and my desire to be on the show has never ceased. I was disappointed last season when there was a veterinarian castaway because I had always hoped that I would be the first veterinarian on the show. Now my next goal is to be the first FEMALE veterinarian on the show.
Dr. Grace Wheeler
Veterinarian
She/Her
Hometown
Atlanta, GA
Hobbies
Cooking, gardening, talking with family and friends, making art and going to museums, exploring Philadelphia, and eating (I’m a huge foodie).
Education and Veterinary Experience
BA in Biology with minors in Art Studio and Chemistry from Mount Holyoke College
VMD from the University of Pennsylvania School of Veterinary Medicine.
I then completed a Small Animal Medicine and Surgery Rotating Internship at BluePearl Sandy Springs in Georgia.
Favorite thing about veterinary medicine
Seeing the same patients and clients over and over again! I love continuity of care and getting to know my patients/clients.
What attracted you to Love City Vet?
Woman owned, independently owned, honest and transparent pricing, and welcoming staff!
What movie have you seen the most times?
She’s the Man or any of the Harry Potter movies
If you weren’t a veterinarian you’d be a…
An Art Museum Curator
Dr. Rachel Palis
Veterinarian
She/Her
Hometown
Rochester, NY
Hobbies
I love hiking and camping with my husband and our dog, traveling in general, cooking, anything plant related, and SCUBA diving.
Education and Veterinary Experience
BA in Biology from Arcadia University in Glenside, PA.
DVM from Ross University School of Veterinary Medicine in St. Kitts with clinical year at Louisiana State University.
For the first few years of my career, I practiced in northern NY as a mixed animal veterinarian. For the six years prior to joining LCV, I practiced as a small animal veterinarian just outside of Philly.
Favorite thing about veterinary medicine
I love surgery and with that dentistry. Mainly it’s the fact that no surgery is the same no matter how many times you do it. It keeps me on my toes. And I have seen things like a dental or a mass removal significantly change the quality of life of an animal overnight (and with that – their owner’s life as well).
A close second is behavior. The brain can be a daunting puzzle and each animal is very much an individual. It can be difficult to figure out what works for each individual case, but when we have a breakthrough (no matter how small) it can feel like such a huge victory.
What attracted you to Love City Vet?
The culture. I previously worked with Dr. Lenahen prior to her opening LCV and saw firsthand the positive and caring energy she puts out in the world. That was then cemented when I visited LCV in person and met everyone here and saw how she cultivates a positive and caring environment for her patients, her clients, and her staff. It feels different as soon as you walk through the door.
What Character Would You Be From a TV Show?
Hands down it would have to be Olivia Benson from Law-and-Order SVU. She is an intelligent, tough as nails, boss babe with a heart of gold.
If you weren’t a veterinarian you’d be a…
A professional SCUBA instructor in a tropical place.
I love the water deeply and have been diving since high school where I got my certification on a whim. I continued through college and even did dive research on artificial reefs, sea urchins and sea turtles in vet school. Every time I go diving it feels new and exciting. The vastness and the mystery of the sea keep calling me back.
Rachel
Practice Manager
She/Her
Hometown
Lansdale, PA
Hobbies
Hiking, rock climbing, spending time with my nieces, exploring local breweries, and lots of Netflixing
Favorite thing about veterinary medicine
Educating clients on the best way to care for their fur babies at home.
While I love seeing all of our patients at the practice, at-home care is an important part of a healthy lifestyle. With so much information available on the internet and by word of mouth, it can be difficult for clients to sift through it all and find the correct bits of information. Being able to provide this to each and every client is very rewarding!
What attracted you to Love City Vet?
Aside from my previous experience working with Dr. Lenahen, Love City Vet’s focus on staff engagement and community outreach is what drew me in. As rewarding as veterinary medicine can be, it can also be draining. A company that puts time and appreciation into its employees is in turn putting time and effort into its clients and patients to ensure an exceptional experience all around. Understanding and being able to empathize with the surrounding community is also key to establishing a positive environment. Empathy is what makes us human and even though we are here to care for pets, it starts with each pet parent.
Star Wars character you would be
Ahsoka Tano: she’s loyal, empathetic, kind-hearted, stubborn, and holds her ground, but will always protect those in need and stand for what is right.
Favorite TV show(s)
The Office and Schitt’s Creek: a good portion of my day-to-day conversations consist of quotes/references from one if not both of these shows.