THE BARK AVE STORY
Born From Emergency Medicine. Built From Love.
Bark Avenue isn't just a veterinary hospital. It's the result of years spent imagining a better way to care for pets when they suddenly get sick or hurt.
Long before Bark Ave opened its doors, Dr. Crimson Primicias spent years working in fast-paced veterinary emergency hospitals. She cared for critically ill pets, performed emergency procedures and surgeries, and helped families through some of their most frightening moments.
Those years gave her invaluable experience—but they also showed her a gap in veterinary medicine.
Not every sick pet needs a 24-hour emergency hospital. But when a pet is vomiting, limping, injured, painful, or simply not acting like themselves, waiting days for an appointment isn't always an option either.
There needed to be something in between.
A place equipped to handle urgent cases with advanced diagnostics, procedures, surgery, and experienced medical care—without losing the personal connection families value from their neighborhood veterinarian.
That idea became Bark Avenue Veterinary Services.
The Heart Behind Bark Ave
While Dr. Primicias' years in emergency medicine shaped what Bark Ave would become, one very special dog shaped how it would feel.
Her name was Finley.
Finley was Crimson and Ben's first rescue dog, their soul dog, and the furry heartbeat of their family.
She was sweet, sensitive, wonderfully quirky, and deeply loved. Through chronic illness, vision loss, and her own medical journey, Finley taught them what it truly feels like to be on the other side of veterinary medicine—not just as medical professionals, but as worried pet parents.
She taught them to advocate fiercely for animals who cannot speak for themselves.
She taught them how much trust it takes to place someone you love in another person's hands.
And she showed them that excellent medicine matters—but so does feeling heard, understood, and cared for along the way.
Finley became the heart behind Bark Ave.
A Different Kind of Veterinary Urgent Care
Bark Ave was created to bridge the gap between the family veterinarian and the emergency room.
We provide veterinary urgent care by appointment for pets who need to be seen sooner than their regular veterinarian may be able to accommodate, but who may not require the environment of a traditional 24-hour emergency hospital.
Dr. Primicias brought her emergency medicine experience, passion for surgery and endoscopy, and love of complex cases into a hospital designed to feel entirely different from the chaotic ER environment where the idea first began.
Here, advanced medicine and thoughtful hospitality can exist in the same place.
Our hospital was intentionally designed to feel warm, calm, and welcoming. We take time to explain what we're seeing, discuss recommendations, provide transparent estimates before moving forward with testing or treatment, and help families understand their options.
Because an urgent veterinary visit may be unexpected.
How you're cared for during it shouldn't be.
Family-Owned. Independently Operated.
Bark Ave is proudly independent and family-owned.
Dr. Crimson Primicias serves as Owner and Medical Director, leading the hospital's medical care and bringing years of emergency and urgent care experience to every aspect of the practice.
Her husband, Ben Primicias, MBA, serves as Executive Director, overseeing the business operations, strategic development, vendor partnerships, marketing, community outreach, and relationships with veterinary hospitals throughout North Jersey.
Together, they built Bark Ave around a shared belief: veterinary medicine can be advanced without feeling impersonal, and urgent care can be efficient without feeling rushed.
Today, that vision continues alongside their son, their three rescue dogs, and a team committed to helping pets feel better and families feel supported.
Finley's Legacy
Finley never got to walk through the doors of the hospital she inspired...
But she's everywhere here.
She's in the Central Park details, the warmth of our spaces, the extra time spent comforting a nervous patient, and the belief that even on a scary day, we can still make things a little brighter.
We like to think she's somewhere chasing butterflies and keeping an eye on every bestie who comes through our doors.
Bark Ave was built because Dr. Primicias knew there could be a better option when pets unexpectedly need care.
It was built with the experience of emergency medicine.
It was shaped by the perspective of a pet parent.
And at its heart, it was built for Finley.
Helping besties get back to their best day ever.
Our Team
crimson primicias
Founder & Veterinarian
From the moment I stepped into veterinary medicine at 16, I knew this was more than a career—it was my calling. I grew up in this field, working my way through every role: assistant, technician, and eventually becoming a licensed veterinary technician. Those early years shaped how I see both medicine and the people behind the pets.
I went on to veterinary school with a clear vision—not just to practice medicine, but to reimagine the experience entirely. After graduating, I spent four years in a fast-paced, high-intensity emergency room. It was there that I saw both the incredible life-saving side of veterinary medicine and the emotional toll it takes on families. The chaos, the coldness, the feeling of being rushed through one of the most vulnerable moments of your life—it never sat right with me.
I knew there had to be a better way.
Bark Ave was born from that vision: an urgent care experience that feels calm, elevated, and deeply compassionate. A place where you and your pet are not just treated—but hosted. Where the environment is intentional, the care is transparent, and every detail—from the music in the exam room to the comfort of the seating—is designed to reduce stress and bring a sense of ease during difficult moments. This is veterinary medicine, reimagined.
At home, my world revolves around my three rescue dogs—Remi, Nikita, and Harper—who remind me daily why this work matters so much. And as a mom to my toddler son-Emerson, I understand on an even deeper level what it means to trust someone with the ones you love most.
Bark Ave isn’t just a hospital—it’s everything I wished existed for my own family, my own pets, and now, for yours.
Ben Primicias
Co-Founder & Chief of Development
Ben Primicias, MBA, serves as Executive Director of Bark Avenue Veterinary Services, helping guide the business operations, strategic growth, and community relationships that support the hospital and its team.
From Bark Ave's earliest planning and construction through its day-to-day operations today, Ben has played an integral role in bringing the vision for an independently owned veterinary urgent care hospital to life.
As Executive Director, Ben works closely with vendors and business partners, oversees key operational and financial initiatives, supports marketing and community outreach, and helps build relationships with local veterinary hospitals and referring practices throughout North Jersey. A major focus of his role is strengthening Bark Ave's connection with the surrounding veterinary community and ensuring local practices know they have a trusted urgent care option when their patients need additional support.
Behind the scenes, Ben also works alongside Dr. Crimson Primicias on the hospital's continued development—from evaluating new services and technology to improving systems, developing partnerships, and planning for Bark Ave's long-term growth.
While Dr. Primicias leads Bark Ave's medical care, Ben ensures the business behind that care moves forward with the same intention that inspired Bark Ave from the beginning: remaining independent, building meaningful relationships within the community, and creating a veterinary hospital that is genuinely there when local pets and their families need it.
Angelica Nieves
Practice Manager
Angelica Nieves brings heart, hustle, and over 16 years of hands-on veterinary experience to Bark Ave. Starting her journey as an exceptional veterinary nurse, she specializes in anesthesia, surgery, and emergency medicine—bringing a calm, confident presence to even the most critical moments. Angelica has spent years on the floor mastering patient care, client communication, and what it truly means to advocate for every furry bestie who walks through the door.
Over the past 4 years as a Practice Manager—and now as Chief Operating Officer—Angelica has been the driving force behind bringing Bark Ave to life. From building the hospital from the studs up to shaping every detail of the client and patient experience, she’s helped create a space where vet care truly feels like a breath of fresh air.
Angelica has also built and now oversees a team of hardworking, experienced veterinary professionals who share her values—delivering gold-standard medicine, exceptional patient care, and plenty of snuggles along the way. She leads with intention, creating a culture where both team members and clients feel supported, respected, and genuinely cared for.
Beyond hospital operations, Angelica drives Bark Ave’s growth through strategic marketing initiatives and partnerships with well-known brands, helping expand the Bark Ave experience beyond the hospital walls. Her ability to blend clinical excellence with business strategy has been key in establishing Bark Ave as a trusted, modern veterinary destination.
She oversees all hospital and business operations, ensuring everything runs seamlessly while never losing sight of what matters most: making every visit feel like the BEST DAY EVER for both pets and their people. Her leadership blends efficiency with empathy, creating an environment where clients feel safe, supported, and confident—and where every bestie gets the care they deserve (and then some).
At Bark Ave, Angelica doesn’t just keep things running—she goes the extra mile to make sure every experience is a walk in the park.
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