It's the first of its kind in the area.
Read more: Local, Economy, Health, Business, Community, East Bay Animal Hospital, Bay Area Animal Hospital, Dr. Kevin Reabe
ACME -- At a time when it's becoming common hearing about businesses closing down or reducing staff...a local veterinary hospital is actually expanding. East Bay Animal Hospital in Grand Traverse County is opening a 24 hour emergency clinic and it's the first of its kind in the area.
"This is still going to be a full service hospital we'll still have the hours that we have now. We're just expanding to a new location downtown and offering not only daytime practice but a 24 hour emergency practice with critical care," says Dr. Kevin Reabe with the animal hospital.
Dr. Reabe says that a 24 hour emergency animal hospital is something he's always wanted for the area. So, now since the animal hospital is expanding it's business, that's finally possible.
"Even though there's great practices during the day, no one has 24 care to where they can monitor the animals all night long by a vet and that's kind of been a pain in my side," says Dr. Reabe.
The 24 hour facility called Bay Area Animal Hospital is going in what used to be Bay Area Eurology on US 31 in Traverse City.
Dr. Reabe says he's planning to hire three new veterinarians and licensed veterinary technicians. The hospital will have regular daytime services for animals and start its emergency hours at 6 p.m. seven days a week.
"It feels good to be in a profession that the need for veterinary care has been increasing. In our 5th year of operation we're still going to be over 33% and last year we grew over 40%. So it's one of the fields pet care that's right behind healthcare that's expected to expand over the next tem years," says Dr. Reabe.
Besides the business expansion, Dr. Reabe says the 24 hour emergency animal hospital is a benefit for pet owners. The lower level of the hospital will also have specialty care that most pets have to go downstate for.
"Ophthalmologists, some other specialists at least a couple times a month to help, provide that time where clients now have to go downstate, usually Michigan State, Grand Rapids or to one of the larger referral hospitals in the Detroit area for that care."
Dr. Reabe says Bay Area Animal Hospital is scheduled to open around the first of the year. The closest 24 hour emergency animal hospital is in Grand Rapids.
