1 year old and growing
Sharon McLeay
Times Contributor
The Animal Care Centre of Strathmore is celebrating one year of operation in their new building, west of Strathmore on Hwy 1.
“It has been wonderful. The new facility has allowed us to provide better services,” said Dr. Jodi Viste. “…having the new indoor calving space has been a blessing.”
The centre has gone from 18 staff members to 25.
“We are drawing a client base from Calgary and Strathmore,” said Viste, who said the highway location has improved the centre’s visibility. “We enjoy drawing people into the Strathmore region and hope that it helps other businesses as well.”
The centre now has partnerships with the Town of Strathmore and Wheatland County, caring for stray animals picked up by bylaw officers, and they help out the SPCA as well.
Prairie Paws Dog Grooming is situated next to the centre, and Viste said it is very beneficial.
The Animal Care Centre of Strathmore often calls on the grooming services, if they need something done prior to treatment or surgery, and pet owners can get grooming done before or after checkups.
Vista said new growth for the centre is more than staff members or client numbers; it includes treatment knowledge as well.
“We would like to see more growth,” said Viste. “An example of that is one of our staff members is taking a physiotherapy course, which we hope to offer to our clients’ pets soon.”
She said it will be appropriate for arthritic pets or for post-surgical pets.
A special indoor section of the building is designated for large animals. She said that Dr. Davis Rand is now doing major knee surgery at the centre.
The centre also works the major rodeos in the area, consulting and treating animal injuries.
It even has a private room dedicated for clients and their small animals, when there is a need to euthanize their pet. It is a dedicated quiet space kept for a little personal time between pet and owner, prior to the pet leaving the centre for cremation services.
The facility is bright, new and state of the art, but a business is more than just a building.
“We have such a great team here. I enjoy working with everyone and we also have fun,” said Viste.
Her staff is celebrating their anniversary with a camping weekend, but Monday … it’s back to putting animal welfare first.