KAMSACK — A Kamsack veterinarian is optimistic after her relocation to a new facility.
Kamsack Veterinary Clinic, owned by Dr. Ellen Amundsen-Case, had to move after the Crowstand Centre was closed to the public.
The facility, now situated in a bright and sunny environment, has received positive feedback from its owner.
When asked about the transition to the new facilities, Dr. Amundsen-Case expressed her satisfaction, describing the new space as compact but well designed to meet their needs. Despite the reduction in square footage from their previous location, she emphasized that the floor plan effectively accommodates their requirements.
“We had 1,600 square feet in the Crowstand Centre,” she said. “Now we have 1,000 square feet. So we are finding it very compact. And there is not a lot of extra space anywhere. But the design of the floor plan works well for what we need. And so we're happy, we're adjusting and I think we're doing well here.”
The interview touched upon the neighbouring community, and Dr. Amundsen-Case mentioned that they have gotten to know some of their neighbours. She said, "We get along better with some of them than we do with others, but that's human nature. So we try to be a good neighbour and do our best to get along."
Concerning the impact on veterinary facilities for animals, Dr. Amundsen-Case shared some changes. The town's regulations no longer allow them to treat horses on trailers in the parking lot of the Crowstand Centre occasionally, a practice they had maintained for two decades. Additionally, the move resulted in a reduction from three kennel rooms to two, bringing the animals closer together. She also mentioned the challenges of finding a suitable location that meets the stringent standards set by the Veterinary Association.
“This was the only place in Kamsack that I could find that was remotely feasible. It has to meet the standards of the Veterinary Association. There are 52 pages of standards and we must score 100 per cent on that inspection. And so we could not find any other facility that would work for us.”
When questioned about the animals' well-being in the new location, Dr. Amundsen-Case pointed to the visibly content animals, citing examples of Victoria and Motley, a pair of rescue cats, expressing their happiness due to improved living conditions compared to the cold outdoors.
Dr. Amundsen-Case expressed gratitude for the support received from the Kamsack community.
"We appreciate the fact that Kamsack wants us to stay and that they're allowing us to continue to remain in business. So that's a wonderful thing."