Maricopa Animal Hospital breaks ground on bigger facility

Staff, family, and friends of the Maricopa Animal Hospital gathered Thursday for the official groundbreaking ceremony of a new facility next to Maricopa Self Storage on John Wayne Parkway.

The veterinary clinic has been serving the Maricopa community since Dr. Kelly Larson first opened its doors in 2007. Located off of North John Wayne Parkway and West Hathaway Avenue, the current clinic is 1,200 square feet with a cramped waiting room occupied by the service desk.

The new, 4,000 square-foot building will expand the waiting room as well as provide bigger exam rooms for veterinary technicians and more parking. The move, expected in the fall, is expected to be quick with the new building located across the street.

“We started out very small, just a couple days a week and gradually we’ve grown in the community,” Larson said. “This is more for our clients than for us to be able to provide a nice, new building with some space. We are very excited.”

Once the building permit is acquired, construction will be done by local subcontractors with a finish date expected within six to seven months, according to Keith Nelson, president of TerWisscha Construction Inc. of Willmar, Minn.

“We’re one of the only companies that do design and construction (of veterinary hospitals) in the United States,” Nelson said. “One of the biggest things most doctors do in their life is getting to do a project such as this, so we’ve got to celebrate it!”

Longtime Animal Hospital clients Dennis and Linda Shurtz expressed their good wishes during the ceremony and shared stories from over the years with Larson and Sylvia Shidemantle, practice manager. The Shurtzes, who have brought their pets to the clinic for 10 years, said they have appreciated the great care and customer service.

“They need the room, so this has just been so exciting. People are talking about it,” Dennis said.

Shidemantle said none of this growth would be possible without the loyal clients that have come to the clinic over the years. She said she appreciated their patience with the limited space at the current location, which will converted into a pet boarding facility.

“It’s time for space!” she said. “Maricopa is just growing so much and we are so busy in the current building. It’s time to expand so we can offer more to our clients.”