Dr. Thad Moore thought the Auburn area could use a veterinary practice with a homier feel.
To reach this goal, he decided there was no better way than to open up one of his own practices in the comfort of an actual home.
Saugahatchee Animal Hospital, which is currently being renovated and will open in the next few weeks, is located at 6412 Stage Road in Loachapoka and will see all small animals and horses.
The house — hospital — will be located in was built in 1907 but underwent its first set of renovations in 2000, when it was used as commercial property until Moore purchased it in August.
Moore said he knew the house would be a good fit for his project when he saw the large rooms inside. He said it was easy to picture which rooms would be used for exams, surgery and intensive care.
The animal hospital will also feature a “doggy day care,” which Moore said would soon have a more creative name.
Lacee Andrews, technician and assistant manager of Saugahatchee Animal Hospital, said this would be a place like no other because of the personalized care that will be given to each animal.
“Other day cares feed the animals a few times a day and let them out once or twice,” Andrews said. “But we will allow the animals to have more social interaction depending on what they need.”
Moore said he chose Loachapoka because of the growth he thinks is about to take place.
He also said while the Auburn area is blessed with many skilled veterinarians because of Auburn’s and Tuskegee’s veterinary schools, there is no veterinary practice in Loachapoka.
“The town is definitely growing,” Moore said. “We feel there is enough need for us to be here.”
Saugahatchee Animal Hospital will be a paperless facility with a state-of-the-art software system to make the process less stressful.
“We may be in a 1907 building, but we are definitely up to date on technology,” Moore said.
Moore currently has a starting team of six plus himself, but plans to grow that team as the business takes off in the weeks to come.
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