Center for Animal Health will complete its newly expanded pet care hospital and celebrate the event with a grand opening celebration Saturday, Oct. 23.

The new facility is located between Edwardsburg and the state line at the corner of M-62 and May Street in the building previously known as the Olde Ice Cream Shoppe — a long-time Edwardsburg icon. The festive, grand opening celebration day will begin with a pet costume benefit walk from the current home of Center for Animal Health at the corner of M-62 and Redfield Road, to the site of the new building just one mile north at the corner of M-62 and May Street.

“We will ceremoniously march to our new home, and carry with us the positive former traditions, while em-‘bark’-ing on the new and improved level patient of pet care,” Dr. David Visser, veterinarian, practice owner and WNDU’s Pet Vet, said with a smile.  “Pledges and donations received will be divided between the pet adoption organizations participating in the day’s festivities: Cass County Animal Control, Humane Society of St. Joseph County and Pet Refuge.”

After the walk, on the decked out grounds of the new Center for Animal Health, the day will continue to unfold with pet health and nutrition vendors, as well as food and games for both people and pets. A tent and staging area will be set up for the official ribbon cutting, followed by pet demos, and special presentations.  Local artists will be on hand for face painting, pet sketches and pet portraits, all available as additional benefit donation opportunities. There will be live music, special door prizes and of course, tours of the new hospital.

“We are very excited to improve and advance the care we can offer to our patients in the Michiana area,” Visser said. “The building is built with comfort in mind — both for pets and for their human-family.”

The facility required considerable expansion and remodeling, and have brought together the comforts of a living room-type setting, along with greatly enhanced treatment and surgical care space. The new intensive care unit and separate infectious disease medical ward will allow for optimal monitoring of recuperating patients. In addition to technological advances, the Center for Animal Health will provide focused alternative healing methods, such as acupuncture and herbal therapy, from practice co-owner, Dr. Karen Visser.

“The soothing, and homey design of our new practice will definitely provide peace and comfort to our patients that might otherwise be nervous away from their own homes ,” she expressed.

The Vissers and Center for Animal Health, along with the Invisible Fence Company will present the Edwardsburg Fire Department with a life-saving pet oxygen mask.

“Every year, thousands of pets die in house fires,” David Visser exclaims. “At our grand opening, we are providing pet fire alert window decals for pet owners to use at home.  So, along with the valuable oxygen mask in the hands of first responders, innocent lives could be saved.”

Attendance is open to all.  To help plan for the benefit march, walkers with or without dogs are encouraged to call or e-mail to register.  There is no cost, but donations and pledges are passionately encouraged.

Contact Center for Animal Health at (888) PETS-VETS or e-mail centerforanimalhealth@comcast.net.

Center for Animal Health has provided veterinary care to Michiana pets for more than 35 years. The Vissers are also directors of Roseland Animal Hospital in South Bend.