Rockland”™s pet population is growing and many animal lovers are crowing over All Creatures Great and Small”™s decision to relocate from Wesley Hills and re-open in Pomona, giving the area a new hospital on the 4.5-acre property owned by the Hudson Valley Humane Society, which is also upgrading its facility.
Dr. Mark Lerman, who founded the practice more than two decades ago, said he saw a need for a round-the-clock location.
“We don”™t know of too many vets that are open 24/7 to offer emergency treatment,” said Dr. Christina Miccio, who has been in the practice for 22 years with the founder.
Micchio put the cost of the new facility at more than $1 million. The building offers two operating rooms, digital x-ray and an in-hospital lab.
One of the biggest plusses, said Micchio, was the new staff that came on board as a result of Lerman”™s decision to relocate and expand the practice. “We had seven people at our old location and are now up to 18,” she said. “We offer a ”˜pet portal”™ on our upgraded website, so our patients can be checked on by their owners. Dr. Lerman put a lot of thought into this building and planned for the future when he decided to build this hospital.”
Keith Cisco, a Tallman Fire Department volunteer, brought his black lab, Triu, in for an emergency. “We”™ve been using All Creatures since Dr. Lerman opened his practice,” said Cisco. “We couldn”™t be happier with the staff, its new building and the new services it is able to offer.”
Lerman”™s daughter, Ariana DeSimone, runs Creature”™s Corner, the kennel next door. “It has really worked out extremely well for the practice,” said Dr. Scott Quick, working the night shift. “We”™ve seen business pick up and are getting a lot more referrals since we started round-the-clock service ”“ and that includes holidays. We”™re right here for the animals at the kennel and the Humane Society, too.”
The Humane Society welcomed the animal hospital on its grounds, where it is planning a new pre-fabricated facility for its shelter. “We are a no-kill facility, but the pets we accept are adoptable,” said Ann Marie Gaudio, a trustee on the board of directors.
The shelter partners with PetSmart in Nanuet to get pets new homes and is raising the funds for its new building from private donations. To date, it has reached $23,000 of the needed $75,000, a daunting task in a recession, “but I think people here know us and will support our efforts,” said Gaudio.
“We”™ve had a wonderful relationship with Dr. Lerman for more than 20 years, and he”™s been my personal vet since the 1970s,” she added. “We”™re so glad he chose to move to this property; he”™s been a great partner to the Humane Society.”
For Lerman, his years as a veterinarian have come full circle. He has been in practice since 1970 and founded All Creatures Great and Small in 1984. “It”™s a pleasure to come into this building and be able to treat our patients with all the latest technology ”¦ I think the move has worked out well for all concerned, and I believe being available around the clock with a doctor and trained technician at the hospital is providing a real need for this area of the county,” said Lerman.
