About Us
Local. Caring. Independent Urgent Care for Pets.
Gems Veterinary Urgent Care is a woman-owned, privately owned, community-focused practice providing high-quality urgent care when your pet needs it most. We’re committed to compassionate, transparent care in a supportive environment where pets and their families feel heard, respected, and cared for.
Privately Owned. Local To The Community.
Our Mission & Core Values
Culture
We foster a positive, supportive workplace where everyone feels respected, included, and united by teamwork and purpose.
Growth & Innovation
We embrace learning and creative problem-solving to strengthen our care and client experience.
Willingness to Go Above & Beyond
When it matters most, we rise with dedication, flexibility, transparency, and heart.
Integrity & Transparency
We lead with honesty and accountability, doing what’s right even when it’s hard.
Meet Our Founder
Dr. Petya Trifonova, DVM
Owner & Lead Emergency Veterinarian
Dr. Trifonova has been a veterinarian for over a decade, spending much of her career in emergency medicine. She values the fast pace, sense of urgency, and investigative challenge that come with managing complex cases.
She believes that even in stressful moments, pets and their families deserve a humane, grounded experience. This philosophy drives her commitment to continual learning and advanced training.
Her focus is always on bringing clarity, calm, and high-quality care to every urgent situation. Outside of the clinic, she shares her life with three cats (Elvis, Piper, and Pippo) and her dog, Nessi, who serve as a daily reminder of the bond between pets and the people who love them.
Key Certifications:
Meet Our Compassionate Team
Our dedicated team works alongside Dr. Petya to provide thoughtful, high-quality urgent care for your pets and peace of mind for your family.
Phylis
Born back East but raised in the mountains of Colorado, I was rarely far from a horse growing up. I competed in local gymkhanas and small rodeos as a kid, experiences that sparked my lifelong love of animals and the outdoors. Colorado has always felt like home, and today I’m lucky to share it with my family and my cats!
Working in veterinary medicine has allowed me to turn my love of animals into something meaningful. I especially enjoy getting to know our clients and their pets and helping make what can sometimes be a stressful visit feel a little easier. I believe listening, being approachable, and making people feel comfortable are just as important as the care their pets receive.
I’m proud to be part of the team at GEMS Veterinary Urgent Care and to work alongside people who genuinely care about the pets and families we serve. I’m grateful for the opportunity to make a positive difference every day and to help every family feel heard, supported, and in good hands.
Shawna
With more than 20 years of experience as a Registered Veterinary Technician, I’ve had the opportunity to work in many areas of veterinary medicine, including emergency and critical care, general practice, orthopedics and rehabilitation, and internal medicine. I’ve always been drawn to specialty medicine because I enjoy the complexity and the opportunity to work alongside dedicated teams to provide thoughtful, high-quality care for patients and their families.
Throughout my career, I’ve also developed a strong interest in the well-being of the people behind veterinary medicine. That passion led me to pursue a Bachelor of Social Work, and I’m currently working toward my Master of Social Work. I’m passionate about creating supportive, healthy workplace cultures and helping make veterinary medicine a more sustainable profession for the people who dedicate their lives to it.
I’m excited to bring my experience, leadership, and passion for both patient and team care to GEMS Veterinary Urgent Care.
Outside of work and school, I’m a wife and mom of two. We love traveling, camping, exploring new places, and—without apology—we’re a Disney family!
Trusted by Local Pet Parents
See what Centennial and South Denver pet owners have to say about our compassionate urgent care team.
Hours & Availability
We’re open Thursday through Monday, from 12:00 PM to 10:00 PM, offering flexible evening hours to accommodate busy families.
Walk-ins are always welcome. Or, if you prefer, you can wait comfortably at home and we’ll notify you when it’s your pet’s turn.
Choose the option that works best for you. We'll keep you updated every step of the way.