Saratoga Business Journal photo
By Susan Elise Campbell
Moreau Animal Clinic is within months of relocating to a new facility designed by Nick and Jill Outterson, the husband and wife veterinarians who purchased the practice in August 2018.
“After being in a general veterinary practice and Nick in emergency medicine, we were looking forward to the next step, and practice ownership was next on the list,” Dr. Jill said.
Moreau Animal Clinic had been a single-doctor practice for 50 years when the Outtersons relocated from Albany to take it over, she said.
In the years that followed, it became more of a challenge with two practitioners working out of a clinic that had been set up to accommodate only one, they said.
“With two of us, we have grown the practice quite a bit and have also added a full-time associate who we have been mentoring the past three years,” said Dr. Jill.
Now the Outtersons are soon to move from 1674 Route 9 in South Glens Falls to a brand new facility at 1-3 Nolan Road, a quarter mile south of their current location.
Northern Builders had done some work on the Otterson’s personal home and “stepped up” when the builder they had working on the clinic didn’t work out, Dr. Nick said.
“This is one of their first commercial properties and we’re happy we went with them,” said Dr. Jill.
There were a few things the Outtersons wanted to do for themselves and for the community they serve as they planned the new structure.
“We have had to manage our time and get creative with limited space,” said Dr. Nick. “But we will soon have room to do more things, be more efficient, and keep things moving so patients are not waiting like they do for a human doctor.”
The new location is off the busy main road the clinic is on now and Dr. Nick said it will be easier for clients to get in and out, especially the older clients. There is also easier and more ample parking on Nolan Road.
“There will be five exam rooms instead of three and a larger surgery suite, as well, which will allow us to do more surgeries,” he said. “We are also adding a dedicated dental suite that we did not have before.”
Moreau Animal Clinic already had upgraded its diagnostic equipment such as digital x-rays and digital ultrasound and the capability to do in-house lab work, which can facilitate the doctors with more in-depth cases and treatments for their feline and canine patients, Dr. Jill said.
These capabilities are more like those offered by an emergency animal clinic than a general practice. But the Outtersons said they saw a need they wanted to address in the community, which is urgent care.
“There is no emergency clinic here. The closest are in Latham or Vermont,” said Dr. Jill. “We are not equipped for emergencies, but urgent care is a priority of ours and we want to help if we can.”
“It’s hard to get an appointment with your vet sometimes, no matter where you are, and we hold same-day sick appointments for our clients,” she said. “But we also get other calls every day and while would love to tell everyone yes, we can’t always fit them into a fully booked schedule.”
If a pet has a laceration it may be critical to seek emergency care, she said. But for an ear infection, an emergency hospital may have to a six to eight hour wait to be seen.
“For simpler things and non-life-threatening situations, our team will do what we can to fill in,” said Dr. Nick. “Our niche is general veterinary practice, plus or minus urgent care.”
The Outtersons got their degrees in Colorado and spent time in California, where Dr. Jill is from. Then 10 years ago they relocated to New York, where Dr. Nick is from. He said that when they are not building a hospital and growing the practice, the couple is busy raising three little boys.
Moreau Animal Clinic is one of the practices that rescue organizations contact when their cats need medical care and is dedicated to educating people about cat rescue and “helping them make the best decision for pets and families,” they said.
“We are excited to accommodate this community better and to help as many animals as possible as our practice grows,” said the Outtersons.
Watch for a grand opening at the end of November, weather permitting, and visit www.moreauanimalclinic.com for information about hours and services.