The Woodland Veterinary Clinic will shutter its doors in June. (Marion Bertrand/Facebook)

By Julia Lovett-Squires

Vet closure

Meadow Lake residents react to Woodland Veterinary Clinic June closure

Jan 24, 2024 | 2:23 PM

The days are numbered for the Woodland Veterinary Clinic and pet owners in Meadow Lake are left with thoughts of appreciation for years of service mixed with uncertainty for the future.

The announcement of the decision for the clinic – headed up by Drs., Dick and Wendy Nitschelm – to close permanently for retirement in June was made on social media last week and according to Mayor Merlin Seymour, while it will leave a void, the city is looking to the future.

“Hopefully it’ll be an opportunity for possibly a new veterinarian to set up shop in Meadow Lake,” he said.

Seymour explained that while they have another clinic in town, the area does draw a lot of patients and another clinic would be welcome.

“It wouldn’t be a bad thing.”

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For longtime client Mauri Young, the clinic’s staff were the reason her family’s “beloved pup AJ” was able to live his best life.

“We were the lucky ones to add him in our lives for about 11 years. The clinic has nursed and treated him for his leg rehab, diabetes and cushing syndrome,” she said via email.

“Without their kindness and care, this special dog would have not enriched our lives as he did.”

According to Jeff McCallum, president of the Meadow Lake and District Humane Society board, said they knew both clinics were going to be strained due to the high volume of animals needing services and support.

“When animal rescue is suffering, that means the vet services in a region are suffering just as much if not worse,” he said.

McCallum said the announcement was expected as the clinic had been operating for decades and was filled to capacity. As someone who works in animal rescue, he too is hopeful the inevitable void will be filled.

“The work will always be there,” McCallum said.

“We’re an agricultural, we have hundreds and hundreds of companion animals, we have livestock, we have horse people, we have nothing but animals in and around our community and our acreages.”

According to Seymour, having the two clinics locally has given the area’s pets a chance to be treated for medical ailments properly and offered them a chance at having good lives.

“Probably the biggest thing is the health and welfare of the animals,” he said.

Both Young and the MLDHS are grateful for the attention and care the local pets other four-legged friends received over the years of service and noted Woodland will be dearly missed.

“They have certainly been a great asset to our community, and I wish them all the best in their new adventure,” said Young.

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julia.lovettsquires@pattisonmedia.com

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