Only 29% of primary care doctors have after-hours coverage, but luckily, Brooklyn pet owners will now have a new opportunity to provide after-hours care for their pets when a 24-hour animal hospital opens next year in Gowanus.
BluePearl Veterinary Partners, a national chain of animal hospitals, has leased a former Third Avenue warehouse and is planning to open a 25,000 square-foot facility. BluePearl provides emergency vet care, specialty surgeries, and more.
The renovations are scheduled to begin next month at 172 and 182 Third Avenue. The two-story BluePearl facility will have “on-site advanced imaging capabilities, including a 64-slice CT, high field MRI and dual radiology suites,” said company spokeswoman Carrie O’Brion.
“The first floor will be dedicated as an outpatient treatment space and a private second floor will house inpatient, ICU, surgery, ultrasound, cardiology and procedure suites.”
The new location is set to replace BluePearl’s existing 8,000-square-foot hospital located at 32 Fourth Avenue. The former location will remain open for business until the new facility is completed.
“We know pets are members of the family, and we have all come to expect a higher standard of medical care for them. Our new hospital will help us deliver on this promise of superior service for all of our Brooklyn patients,” said Steve Baker, Group Director of Operations for BluePearl in New York and New Jersey.
The former warehouse leased by BluePearl is zoned for manufacturing. It was formerly occupied by R and R Gaver Knitwear. Before that, it had been used as lofts for artists.
However, some tenants claimed that they were being forced out unfairly back in 2011 when a charter school made plans to take over the space. The plans fell through, and owner of the building, Jack Elo, said the tenants finally left when their leases expired.
Elo also owns a lot down the block on Third Avenue and Butler Street. According to Elo, U-Tech Elevator is planning on building offices and a showroom at the property.
Ultimately, the new 24-hour animal hospital is good news for pet owners everywhere. 46,300,000 households have dogs, and this new facility gives owners a new opportunity to access medical care for their animals at any time of the day or night.
