Loomis Veterinary Clinic turns 30

A state-of-the-art medical center is celebrating three decades of operation in Loomis this year. However, the patients are of the four-footed variety - or birds, reptiles, ostriches, even monkeys, when there's been a need. Since 1991, the veterinary center has been two separate businesses: The Loomis Basin Veterinary Clinic Small Animal Services, owned by veterinarians Rick Frey and Corey Cherrstrom; and the Loomis Basin Equine Medical Center, owned by veterinarians Greg Fellers and Bob Morgan. But locals still call it the Loomis Vet Clinic.As a "thank you" to the community for many years of support, the veterinary medical center held an open house Oct. 9 at its 8-1/2 acre facility on Sierra College Boulevard. Five hundred guests, including present and former clients and employees, toured the complex and enjoyed a barbecue while listening to music by the South Loomis Quickstep band, which reunited for this special occasion.Drs. Fellers and Frey started the veterinary practice in a small house on Taylor Road in 1975, after graduating from the UC Davis School of Veterinary Medicine three years earlier. They were joined by Davis veterinary school graduate Dr. Corey Cherrstrom in 1977. Two years later they moved to the Sierra College Boulevard site, a former cow pasture owned by Gladys Watson. Dr. Bob Morgan, also a Davis veterinary school classmate, joined the practice in 1980.The complex has grown considerably through the years. Today, it occupies 20,000 square feet, three quarters of which are used for small animal services. The small animal clinic has slowly grown from the four original veterinarians to more than 20 doctors, including several specializing in surgery, internal medicine, dentistry and radiology. Total staff is about 125, with more being added all the time. The hospital facilities have been expanded four times.Curley Jones, now living in Esparto, has been a client of the clinic since it was located on Taylor Road. Jones owned Morgan horses on a ranch near Lincoln. "I had a horse and buggy, for pleasure driving," says Jones. "They kept them in shape."Frey's philosophy of veterinary medicine is to "Work on an animal not once, but for a lifetime." It's the kind of service that has kept Nora Cooke coming to Loomis for her animals' care when she lived in the Bay Area and since she moved to Cool. Through the years, she has relied on the clinic to treat her Arabian horses, Doberman pinschers and Siamese cats. "This is the best clinic in all departments that anyone would ever need to go to. People here are extremely kind and friendly. They don't come any better," she says.Cherrstrom feels strongly about his clients, too. "I enjoy talking with old clients as much as I do treating their pets. There are some clients who started in the little house with us who are still with us. We've seen kids grow up and now they are bringing their pets in, too," he says.Fellers points out the small animal clinic's modern technology, which is used to perform Computed Tomography scans. The CT scan is useful for imaging of the internal organs of the body. While X-rays are good for examining the condition of bones and joints, says Fellers, "With the CT we can look at soft organs such as the heart, lungs, liver and intestinal tract."The equine center has a staff of 35, including six veterinarians. Its intensive care unit offers round-the-clock complete supportive care of seriously ill horses. Equine center staff care for farm and livestock animals in a new, 5,500-square-foot building.Fellers is optimistic about the veterinary clinic's future. "When we were in the little house, we just made logical steps and decisions about growing and adding new equipment and technology," he says. "Rick and I had no clue 30 years ago that this is where we would be today. I know that the clinic has that culture of wanting to be the very best, on the cutting edge. It will continue to grow and expand in ways we can't even envision right now."Fellers also knows who is responsible for the clinic's success. "We are so thankful that the community has supported us. We are grateful that they trust us with their animals," he says.Martha Garcia can be reached at marthag@theloomisnews.net.