PIERCE — After 25 years in its location at Pierce, Willow Creek Veterinary Service will be closing its office there as of Feb. 16.
Dr. Shane Petersen has been run - ning both the mixed animal clinic in Pierce and a small animal clinic - Westside Family Pet Clinic - in Norfolk since 2010, and the latter will still be available to his customers.
Petersen said that keeping ad - equate numbers of staff in general has been the largest obstacle lately. It had been his intention to offer the mixed animal practice to an up-and-coming mixed animal practitioner, but there are few of those students graduating from veterinary colleges, and fewer coming to this area.
Also, many of his current team members are starting families and wanting to do fewer hours and fewer emergencies.
In addition, Petersen said, “As for myself . . . I am no longer as agile as I used to be, nor do I believe I am as invincible as I once thought. I have enjoyed 25 years as a mixed animal practitioner, but I think that it is time that I hang up my coveralls." Petersen stated that, to meet the needs of his patients and the needs of his team, he thought it best to consolidate their efforts at the Norfolk location and focus on small animal medicine and surgery.
He offered the following information for his clients: — Equine clients: Willow Creek will no longer provide emergency services or medicines after Feb. 16. They will continue to provide health certificates until June 1, and can forward records to another clinic.
— Cattle and other food animals and small ruminant clients : After Feb. 16, they will no longer provide emergency or medical services, but will provide Veterinary Feed Direc - tives (VFDs), health certificates, medications and vaccinations by order until Dec. 31.
— Small animal and exotic patient clients: Care will continue at Westside Family Pet Clinic, including free vaccinations for life wellness programs.
— Clients with bees: They will continue to provide service and medications for their clients who have hives for commercial and private use, through their Norfolk clinic.
— Municipalities that Pierce is the city pound for: The Willow Creek location is currently the city pound for Pierce, Plainview, Foster and Osmond. At this time, the Pierce location will remain the pound for these towns until further notice.
"This has been an extremely dif - ficult decision to make," Dr. Petersen said. "It is unfortunate that the path has gone this direction, but due to the way things are happening, I think this is the best decision. I am thankful for everyone who has supported us and I am thankful for all of the relation -
ships that have been forged over the last 25 years."
