<I>Contributed photo</I><BR>Dr. Lisa M. Bartel, D.V.M., has a new veterinary clinic in Naselle.

NASELLE – Dr. Lisa M. Bartel, D.V.M., has opened a new full-service veterinary clinic in Naselle called Country Pet Veterinary Clinic. The clinic is located in a newly constructed facility at 300 Parpala Road, about 1.5 miles west of the intersection with State Route 401 where the Naselle Timberland Library, the Bank of the Pacific, and Okie’s Market are located.

Come and meet Bartel and staff and see the clinic during their open house on Saturday, June 27, from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.

The clinic will have regular hours from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., Wednesday through Sunday.

Additionally, the clinic will be open to sell products, pick up and drop off boarders, and by special appointment to see seriously ill animals from 9:30 a.m. to noon, Monday and Tuesday.

It offers full service care for pets including exams, vaccinations, medications, surgery, grooming and boarding. The clinic also offers basic health care services for horses. Medications and vaccinations for livestock are administered. Country Pet Vet carries Hill’s Science Diet foods for cats and dogs. It also stocks a full line of Hill’s Prescription Diet foods to provide a local source for pets with special dietary needs.

A 1990 graduate of Washington State University, Bartel has been a veterinarian for nearly 20 years, practicing in large multi-doctor, state of the art hospitals as well as small, rural clinics. She has also worked in cat only and holistic care clinics. In addition, she worked at Playfair Racetrack through the Washington Horse Racing Commission. Most recently, Bartel worked part-time for Vetter’s Animal Hospital in Raymond, where she has been a relief vet for over 14 years. She has worked with the last three owners of Vetter’s, including one of the great veterinarians of our region, “Doc Vetter.”

Country Pet Vet specializes in providing low-cost vaccinations and low-cost spays and neuters for pets. Bartel’s inspiration for opening her clinic was a desire to address a need for providing an affordable option for this basic care. She said that she believes that as a veterinarian she has an obligation to provide these services at a cost that encourages all owners, regardless of their income, to seek this care for their animals.

“I don’t care if you are Bill Gates, come in, I want to spay your cat or dog! Keeping current on vaccines, spaying, and neutering are the best things we can do to take care of our pets. Spaying and neutering greatly extends their life as well as controls the population of stray animals. Unaltered cats are more likely to contract feline leukemia and feline AIDS. Unaltered male cats and dogs get hit by cars [while out] looking for girls and also get into more fights. Unaltered females are much more likely to get uterine infections as they age and get breast cancer. I love animals and I want to help the owners who care for them.”

For those that cannot afford to pay for the care, Bartel said she can often arrange help from local pet rescue groups to defray the cost. She urges anyone in need to call to make arrangements for vaccinations, neutering, and spaying of their pets and she will find a way to help owners pay for the care.

Given the large number of people from Pacific and Wahkiakum counties that travel by the clinic in route to the Long Beach Peninsula, Longview and Astoria areas, the clinic offers “day boarding” at no charge for owners who want to drop their pets off for care and pick them up on their way back home.

“Go and spend Saturday or Sunday in Long Beach or shopping at Costco, drop your pet off on the way there and pick them up on your way home,” she said.

Bartel, her husband Allen, and their two little girls share a love for animals. They run a small farm and raise Katahdin sheep, heirloom layer chickens, peacocks, cats, farm dogs and Kangal livestock guardian dogs. From their farm they supply fresh eggs and lamb to local buyers and the farm can be seen at (www.kangalguardian.com).

Prior to her most recent work at Vetter’s, Bartel took a leave of absence to raise her two little girls. Her girls are now school age and she is able and eager to establish her own practice for the first time. This gives Bartel the opportunity to meld the best from all of the experience she has had, providing the highest level of veterinary care for her patients in a relaxed environment that is friendly and comfortable for her patients and their owners.

You can contact the clinic at 360-484-7228 or (info@countrypetvet.com). You can also learn more about it, including driving directions, at (www.countrypetvet.com).