A new after-hours emergency veterinary clinic in Sarnia is expected to begin operating at the end of the year.
Dr. Balreet Sidhu said the site, located at 817 Phillip St. E, is currently under construction.
"It may take another three months maybe. Our estimate is two months but things can get a little bit delayed," he said. "Then we will have cubicle installation and then inspections so I am looking at around the end of this year [to open]."
Sidhu said the renovation process has been going well overall.
"There are a lot of things to consider when you acquire property and you change the use. You have to go through a lot of permits and stuff," he said.
Sidhu said there will be an opportunity for community members to tour the site once it's ready.
"There is definitely a need for an after-hours clinic or urgent care," he said. "Our patients need that care so that they don't have to drive two hours and wait there for a couple of hours to get emergency services."
A petition was launched last year to restore after-hours emergency vet services after a Sarnia woman was unable to find help for her dog that died in her arms.
In the meantime, Sidhu opened the ARS Veterinary Mobile Clinic on July 15 so he can oversee the project while treating animals.
Services for the mobile clinic include examinations and consultations, vaccines, minor illnesses, in-home euthanasia and aftercare services. The mobile clinic operates Monday to Saturday from 10 a.m. until 8 p.m.
With files from Lindsay Newman