North Shoppes vet clinic expected to open in fall
A new family-owned veterinary clinic is bringing relief to pet owners seeking urgent care for their furry friends.
The owner of the land around 5423 N. Pointe Dr. expects to break ground on the project next week. The property is just north of where the new My Place Hotel opened earlier this month near the Shoppes at North Village.
Austin Haeker, an associate veterinarian at Taylor Animal Hospital of Parkville and Smithville, said he knows there is a need for urgent animal care in the area.
“I wanted to provide that service to the area along with preventative care, like vaccines and heartworm tests, but I knew there was a need for it, and it’s something I always wanted to do,” Haeker said.
The clinic will not be open 24 hours a day but will provide 24-hour on-call service for emergencies.
“The goal is to someday have staffing there to monitor hospitalized patients (for 24 hours) and then still continue the on-call service,” Haeker said.
Many pet owners in the area have shared their hopes on social media for 24-hour emergency care service to come to the area. However, maintaining those hours can be difficult for many establishments due to staffing.
“A lot of that staffing is hard to find, you know, technicians and assistants to monitor patients throughout the evening,” Haeker said. “It’s even harder to find veterinarians to also stay overnight.”
Veterinary science runs in Haeker’s family. Haeker graduated from the University of Missouri-Columbia in 2024. His grandfather and father are veterinarians and Haeker’s brother is currently enrolled in a veterinary education program.
Haeker noticed the need for veterinary services increase during the COVID-19 pandemic when many individuals became pet owners.
“That’s kind of opened up a spot for someone like me to come in and help when needed,” Haeker said.
Haeker plans to build two units for intensive care and light observation.
“If you can’t get in for a month at your veterinarian, we’ll be there for the community, but on top of that, we’ll still have the basic preventative care,” Haeker said.
Hiring for the new facility may begin this summer. However, Haeker does not have any other details at this time.
He emphasized that plans for the clinic are not set in stone, though a possible name for the new facility, North Pointe Veterinary Clinic and Urgent Care, has been discussed.
“We’re very excited,” Haeker said. “It’s something I enjoy doing. I like fixing problems and being there for people who need it.”
