Many pet owners know the feeling of dread that accompanies getting ready to take an uncooperative animal friend to the veterinarian.
Capital District Mobile Veterinary Services is looking to take some of that stress out of the experience, though, by bringing the vet’s office to the pet. Owner Sarah Nolan and veterinary assistant Anne Giagni started making house calls about three months ago, and according to Nolan, things have taken off faster than she could have imagined.
Nolan, a Saratoga Springs native, had been working at an Albany practice for eight years and said people would “constantly” call and ask for a veterinarian to come to their home to see their pet. Now, that’s exactly what she does offering a variety of services, such as annual wellness exams and vaccinations, behavior consultations and blood work.
“A lot of big cities have that service and I thought it would be a great way to own my own business without all that overhead and a lot more personal experience going into people’s homes,” Nolan said. “The biggest reason I did it is the stress for animals. By going into their homes they react so differently.”
Giagni, a Guilderland native and Latham resident who has been in the veterinary field for 17 years, agreed easing stress was the biggest difference from operating out of a brick-and-mortar location.
“Everybody is a lot more calmer in the home and the pet isn’t looking at us as the bad guy,” Giagni said.
Being outside of an office during work also has its benefits.
“I love not being in one building all day,” Giagni said. “You get a better client relationship going into the home and you don’t have that rushed feeling about the appointments.”
The only real limitations of her mobile-only business, Nolan said, are not offering X-rays or surgeries, but she will recommend a local veterinarian to perform such procedures if needed.
There is a $40 house call fee for appointments within most suburban Albany County communities, which goes up for more distant appointments, but Nolan said she in turn tries to make all of her prices lower than at traditional animal hospitals. All new clients receive $20 off their first visit, she said.
For some, the service is about convenience, but for others it’s the only way they can have their pet see a veterinarian. Nolan said she sees “a lot of elderly clients” who can’t drive or have trouble transporting their pets.
“It is really nice to go to these people’s homes who might not otherwise get care because they can’t get them out of the house,” Giagni said. “There are quite a few animals we have seen where the owners were not able to get out of the home.”
There are also two end-of-life services provided – hospice for terminally ill pets and at-home euthanasia. Nolan said clients have found at-home euthanasia to be a more peaceful experience for their pet and themselves.
Both women said they knew very early in life that they wanted to be in the veterinary field.
“I wanted to be a veterinarian since I was very, very young – around 5 or 6 years old,” Nolan said.
Her parents owned a dairy farm in Fort Edwards when she was growing up, which first led her towards want to be a large animal vet. Around halfway through her studies she switched over to small animals.
“I never wavered from it,” she said. “I couldn’t imagine doing anything else; it was that or nothing.”
For information on Capital District Mobile Veterinary Services, call 915-3200 or visit www.capitaldistrictmobilevet.com.
