Columbia Animal Hospital permanently shuts down
Euphenie Andre
COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ)
Columbia is down one animal hospital Friday.
The closure was announced last week and many pet owners say the sudden shutdown is unfortunate and concerning. A reason for the closure has not been provided.
Jada Sievers, a veterinary student and with two dogs, doesn’t use Columbia Animal Hospital herself but she understands the impact of its closure.
“Even in a city like Columbia, where we’re lucky enough to have more than one hospital, the loss of a single one is harmful to the whole community,” she said.
Sieves added with the hospital permanently closed, it could leave longtime clients without the providers they’ve come to trust.
“It’s a big loss” Sievers said. “Especially for people who have a relationship with that doctor or clinic. There’s trust built, and now they have to start from scratch.”
Another pet owner Katie Gilbane who was not a customer at the hospital said the closure could have ripple effects across the community.
“Less services available for those that need them,” Gilbane said. “Different price points at different places are nice for people in the community, so I think that’s sad.”
The hospital is owned by CareVet LLC, which is registered to a Jefferson City address and describes itself as a partnership with more than 500 licensed veterinarians. Staff members said they were given about two weeks’ notice before the closure by corporate leadership. According to employees, eight staff members are affected.
“Veterinarians have a very important role in communities, and the loss of more veterinarians is a really big hit,” Sievers added.
Despite the closure, there are still 24-hour emergency care options in Columbia, including the MU Veterinary Health Center and Horton Animal Hospital–Discovery.
There is now a “For Sale” sign posted outside the property. ABC 17 News has reached out to the realty company for more information about the site’s future, but has not yet received a response.
Check back for updates.