Three cheers — and barks and meows — for Stroud Veterinary Hospital, which is celebrating its 20th anniversary this month.
Located at 7918 Yonge St., doctor of veterinary medicine (DVM) Wendy Hatch opened the hospital on Oct. 14, 2004. Since Thanksgiving falls on the anniversary this year, staff members invite their clientele to celebrate this important milestone on Oct. 17, when refreshments will be served from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. They will also have some memorabilia and vet curiosities on display.
Inspired to found the hospital because Simcoe County was mostly rural with a high potential for growth, Hatch and her husband, Grant, renovated the existing Peacock House to create the hospital as it now stands.
“I grew up in a small town, and still like that ‘small town’ feel of Stroud itself, and the surrounding villages,” Hatch said.
“Despite our proximity to Barrie, I rarely spend much time at all within the city limits. Grant and I lived under the hospital for almost 10 years, although we now live on a farm north of Barrie.”
Originally from Muskoka, Hatch employs four people at the hospital — including registered veterinary technicians Monique Bakker, Joanna Bishop and Carollynn Kreuger, and veterinary technician Tabitha Troughton — while DVMs Judith Pottins and Kate Hawkes have provided locum services for the hospital on a regular basis for eight and two years, respectively.
Danielle Bennett and this year’s summer student, Hailey Wilson, assist the hospital on an occasional basis.
“Seasonally, we often have co-op students from the veterinary technician programs in Ontario,” Hatch explained.
When asked which animals the hospital cares for, Hatch told InnisfilToday that “95 per cent of the patient base here is dog and cat, and we all devote a lot of time into keeping current with canine and feline medicine.”
“We see the occasional exotic critter but generally direct owners of birds, reptiles and small mammals to the local veterinarians that devote more time to knowing the specialized requirements for most of those species, and that have specific equipment to deal with their needs.”
“Approximately 7,500 patients have been seen since we opened.”
Sarah Paiero has brought her pets to the hospital since it first opened.
“Dr. Wendy and her team have always provided compassionate care for our seven pets over the years. Whether they are giving us advice about introducing a new pet to our home, assisting us with an emergency — there have been many, one including a fishhook! — or helping us make a difficult decision about end of life, we have always known our pets are in the very best hands," Paiero said.
“We would like to thank the community for their continued support over the last 20 years, and look forward to caring for their families for years to come,” Hatch said.
Learn more about the hospital by checking out its website here.
