For 16 years, veterinarian Dr. Debbie Oliver has been tending to Palisadians’ furry, scaled and feathered friends, but that will soon come to an end. Oliver has announced that she will be closing the Blue Cross Pet Hospital. The final day of business will be Thursday, May 15.
“I need a change. I need to move on with my life,” said Oliver, 57. “I put my heart and soul into these animals and these people. It hurts, it really hurts.”
The financial challenges of operating a small veterinary hospital played a role in her decision to close the business located at 15239 La Cruz. According to Oliver, most vets who operate small hospitals are struggling financially.
Oliver had been attempting to find a buyer for the veterinary hospital but came up empty-handed.
Rich Schmitt/Staff Photographer
“I couldn’t find another vet to buy it. I tried and tried. I couldn’t find a rescue organization to take it over either,” Oliver said.
The decision didn’t come easily to Oliver, who admitted she has mixed emotions about the closure.
“I’m really going to miss the community,” she said. “I’m going to worry like hell about my patients and clients. I’ve come to love them and they’re my friends.”
After 16 years in business, the vet has many memorable tales of her time in the Village. One is about a python snake that wasn’t feeling well. As part of the exam, Oliver had to draw blood, which is usually taken from a vein in a snake’s tail. She wasn’t having any luck drawing the blood so she had to go with Plan B.
“Snakes have a big vein in their mouth,” she recalled. “The owner said he’d hold the snake’s mouth open and the next thing you know, the owner’s hand is caught in the snake’s mouth and his blood is all over the place. So I tried to help and the next thing I know, my hand is stuck in the snake’s mouth and I’m bleeding all over too. We never did find out what was wrong with the snake, but it got better.”
Oliver wants to reassure the community that it will be “business as usual” at Blue Cross Pet Hospital through May 15. Until then, she will continue seeing clients for all of their pets’ needs.
In keeping with veterinary regulations, Oliver will be transferring patient files to another animal hospital and clients can then transfer those files to a new vet of their choice.
On Friday, Saturday and Sunday, May 16-18, Oliver will hold a massive garage sale at the facility. Among the items for sale are washers, dryers, refrigerators, dog dishes, birdcages, computers, tables, shelves, phones and more.
Oliver’s main concern at this point? Finding “forever” homes for the cats and dogs that are currently available for adoption at the Blue Cross Pet Hospital. She urges anyone interested in adopting to stop by the office in the coming weeks.
She also encourages members of the community to “stop by and say goodbye so I can cry all over you.”
Blue Cross Pet Hospital, 15239 La Cruz, (310) 454-2633.
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