Renovation Complete on Central Veterinary Hospital—Animals Give it Two Paws Up

The Central Veterinary Hospital is now five times as big, giving patients and doctors more space to stretch out in.
Now it’s almost too big, jokes Dr. Michel Hardaker, the hospital owner. “It’s kind of peculiar because I thought this would be everything I ever wanted, but now everything’s taking longer to do because it’s so much bigger,” she said with a laugh. She and her staff were used to working in the cramped 2,000 square foot facility, but are learning to stretch out, and enjoy the extra 8,500 feet that was added, she said.
The hospital completed construction on a brand-new $1.2 million state-of-the-art wing this summer. The staff moved into the new two-story wing in September.
“We had been doing as much as we could in that tiny space for too long,” Hardaker said.
The hospital will now only use the old facility for canine boarding, allowing them to expand their kennel operations.
The new facility features dedicated facilities for dogs and cats, making it a more comfortable experience for both animals and owners. The place has six exam rooms, three for dogs and three for cats. There are also separate waiting areas for the different species, allowing cats to wait “without having a German Shepherd breathing down your neck,” Hardaker said.
The new facility also has a cat boarding area, and a large new space that they are currently using for exercising the dogs, although they may adapt it for puppy classes or doggy daycare at some point, Hardaker said.
The hospital now has an entire dental suite, and laser capabilities. They also added two new doctors, and some support staff, expanding their staff from 12-15 to 20 people, and more are expected to join, Hardaker said.
The hospital has been located at 388 Central Avenue since 1982. Hardaker purchased the business in 1990. The expansion is a perfect way to celebrate the hospital’s 25th Anniversary.