Hillcrest Animal Hospital has been under new ownership since November by a husband and wife team who have a shared passion for animals.
Doctors Mason and Kathryn Bell hope to continue Hillcrest's tradition of providing premier veterinary care while adding a few additional features to its list of services, including large animal care and various in-house testing capabilities.
"We want to bring the most high quality medicine to Poplar Bluff and to offer large animal services to the Poplar Bluff area," Kathryn Bell said. "Adding large animal services has been our biggest change, but we've also added in-house blood work and urinalysis equipment, digital X-ray and ultrasound."
The Bells' said they understand busy lifestyles and have tried to make convenience a priority to benefit their customers.
"We tried to do everything we could to give people the answers they want right away," Mason Bell said. "A lot of times it's all that people can do to get here, it is the only time they have to come in, and we want to give them the answers they need while they're here."
The Bells said it is their goal for a normal office visit to last less than an hour.
While Kathryn Bell spends her days mostly in the office, Mason travels the surrounding areas providing large animal care.
"Most all of it is ambulatory, based out of my truck. I have a vet box in the back with all of my medicine and equipment, so I can go to any patient and do what I need to do," Mason Bell said.
He pointed out there may be extenuating circumstances, depending on the situation, which require further testing or extended care, but said overall, he is prepared.
"We should able to facilitate most of your routine equine, cattle and small ruminant needs at the producer's house," Mason Bell said.
Hlllcrest continues to offer boarding services, consisting of a selection of kennels and suites.
"The kennels are a little less cushy than a suite, where they have a toddler bed and cable TV," Kathryn Bell said. "So there are a couple of options."
While the facility does not offer traditional grooming services, the Bells said staff will wash and brush the pets prior to departing the kennel.
"We don't claim to be groomers, just bathers," added Kathryn, with a laugh.
The Bells said giving back to the community is important to their mission with Hillcrest, which is why they chose to be the premier sponsor of the proposed dog park in Downtown Poplar Bluff.
"The community has supported us and we want to give some of that back," Kathryn Bell said. "Being a veterinary clinic, supporting the dog park seemed like a natural fit."
Kathryn Bell said socialization and exercise are vital to an animal's health and a local place (the dog park) for folks to bring their dogs "is great."
"It's not only great for their owners, so their dog can run off some steam and wear out for the day but it's also great for the dogs to either help them lose weight or simply socialize with other dogs."
While many familiar faces can still be found around the clinic, the Bells' mentioned Hillcrest's previous owner, Dr. Mike Shepard, is still on-staff and assists with office visits a few hours each week.
Prior to relocating to Poplar Bluff, the Bells' practiced in the Kansas City area after graduating from the University of Missouri - Columbia. They have three dogs, Zeus, Fritz and Cue Ball.
Hillcrest Animal Hospital is located at 1904 S. Westwood Blvd. For more information, call 573-785-1471.